Evidence that homogenization of BSA-stabilized hexadecane-in-water emulsions induces structure modification of the nonadsorbed protein.

Abstract

The structural modification of globular proteins (bovine serum albumin, BSA) in the aqueous phase of emulsions produced by homogenization was studied using front-face fluorescence spectroscopy (FFFS). A series of hydrocarbon oil-in-water emulsions (30 wt % n-hexadecane, 0.35 wt % BSA, pH 7.0) were homogenized to differing degrees with a high-speed blender and a high-pressure valve homogenizer. The wavelength of the maximum in the tryptophan emission spectrum (lambda(max)) of serum phases collected from the emulsions by centrifugation was measured and compared to lambda(max) values of BSA solutions subjected to the same homogenization conditions. There was no significant (p < 0.05) change in lambda(max) with homogenization conditions for BSA solutions. In contrast, lambda(max) of serum phases from emulsions blended for 2 min in a high-speed blender was significantly smaller (p < 0.05) than nontreated BSA solutions (Deltalambda(max) = 2 nm). In addition, there was a further significant decrease in lambda(max) of the serum phases with an increasing number of passes of the emulsion through the high-pressure valve homogenizer (e.g., Deltalambda(max) = 4 nm for 12 passes). This study shows that globular proteins present in the aqueous phase of a hexadecane-in-water emulsion after homogenization could be altered, which is probably caused by surface modification of the protein structure during temporary adsorption to emulsion droplet surfaces during homogenization.