Effects of acidification by glucono-delta-lactone or hydrochloric acid on structures of zein-caseinate nanocomplexes self-assembled during a pH cycle

Zein is a hydrophobic protein and is conventionally prepared as dispersible nanoparticles with the anti-solvent precipitation method. The dispersion stability of zein nanoparticles can be enhanced after adsorbing with a biopolymer such as sodium caseinate (NaCas). In our previous work, self-assembled nanocomplexes of zein and NaCas were formed after a pH-cycle from neutral to pH 11.5 and then to pH 7.0 using HCl. This pH cycle method eliminates...