Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Formation of Ordered Biomolecular Structures by the Self-assembly of Short Peptides
Published on: November 21, 2013
Towards food-derived self-assembling peptide-based hydrogels: Insights into preparation, characterization and
Chenxiao Zhu1, Wei Wu2, Olugbenga P Soladoye3
1College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Speciality Food Co-Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Chongqing 400715, China; Westa College, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Abstract:
Food proteins represent a vital source of self-assembling peptides, with hydrogels constructed through peptide self-assembly exhibiting widespread utility in the food sector. This review aims to provide a recent research progress in preparation and characterization of hydrogels from food-derived peptides. Also, the self-assembly mechanisms and the impact of factors are discussed. Presently, food-derived self-assembling peptide-based hydrogels can be synthesized using either physical or chemical methodologies and evaluated through methodologies such as microscopic, spectroscopic, and rheological assessment. The self-assembly of food-derived peptides is hierarchically formed by non-covalent interactions, including hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions, where variables such as temperature and pH intricately modulate the assembly mechanism. The association between peptide sequence and hydrogel structure in the self-assembly mechanism is also discussed, which remains to be further explored. The present review contributes to application of food-derived peptide-based hydrogels in the fields of food, nutrition and material sciences.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which the addition of water breaks down a polymer into its simpler monomer units. For example, peptides break into amino acids, carbohydrates into simple sugars, and DNA into nucleotides. Enzymes often facilitate these processes.
Hydrolysis Reverses Dehydration Synthesis
Complex carbohydrates can be broken down by breaking the bonds between individual sugar units. The reaction breaks a glycosidic bond as water is added to the compound. The...
Microbes in Food Production
Sources of Food Contamination
Upstream Processing
Production of Organic Acids
Downstream Processing

