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Synthesis of an Intein-mediated Artificial Protein Hydrogel
Published on: January 27, 2014
Fabrication of multifunctional biomaterial through conjugation between whey protein isolate and punicalagin
Mahmoud Youssef1, Essam Hady2, Fayez Khalaf Mourad3
1College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, PR China; Food Science and Technology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract:
This study explores the feasibility of ultrasound-assisted covalent conjugation between punicalagin-rich polyphenol (PRP) and whey protein isolate (WPI), compared with the conventional free-radical grafting method, which is time-consuming. Ultrasound-assisted conjugation between PRP and WPI reduced the interaction time from 24 h in the conventional method to 20 min, while maintaining a high PRP grafting content (56.44 mg/g). Changes in the ratios of free amino, Thiol, and tyrosine groups, as well as decreased fluorescence intensity relative to native WPI, indicated the formation of WPI-PRP conjugates. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed intensified 40-55 kDa bands, representing covalently linked WPI-PRP. The molecular docking study indicated that the WPI-PRP conjugates also formed hydrogen bonds. Functionally, WPI-PRP conjugates had high thermal stability, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and emulsion activities compared to WPI. Finally, WPI-PRP conjugates could be used as delivery systems for bioactive compounds in the food and pharmaceutical sectors.
