Two-step sequential cross-linking of sugar beet pectin for transforming zein nanoparticle-based Pickering emulsions to emulgels

Nanosized (<100 nm) zein spheres were employed for fabrication of a series of fish O/W Pickering emulsions. Although surface tension measurement informed the high potency of zein particles for interfacial adsorption, the prepared emulsions destabilized shortly. Electrostatic deposition of sugar beet pectin onto zein particles interfacial layer at pH 4.0 increased significantly the emulsion stability which was attributed to enhanced steric and electrostatic repulsions based on ζ-potential measurements. Pectin enrichment also increased the viscosity of the continuous phase of emulsion. Injection of the oxidative enzyme laccase into the pectin-enriched emulsion to cross-link the feruloyl-bearing pectin molecules and the subsequent addition of CaCl₂ to set ion-mediated cross-linkages between carboxyl groups of pectin chains transformed Pickering emulsions to emulgels. The higher the pectin content, the shorter was the gelation time of emulsions. The obtained emulgels were self-standing and became harder along with increasing pectin content.