Gellan -Caseinate Nanocomplexes as a Carrier of Omega-3 Fatty Acids:study of Particle size, Rheological Properties and Encapsulation Efficiency

Biopolymer based nano-complex is a category of nano-carriers which are produced by interaction between protein and polysaccharide. They can carry hydrophobic nutriciuticals in aqueous solutions and also cause to increase of protection and bioavailability of encapsulated active materials. In this research, gellan-caseinate complexes containing omega3 were produced by adding gellan solutions to caseinate solutions containing omega3 and adjusting pH to below of caseinate isoelectric point (pI=4.9). The results of particle size studies by lazar diffractions showed that particle sizes were continues increased with increasing caseinate concentration from 0.1 to 0.5 and 1% and adding gellan gum to caseinate solutions in two level of 0.05 and 0.1 % caused to decrease in size. The smallest particle (385 nanometer) were produced at the level of 0.1 % of gellan and caseinate and at this concentration, more than 50% and 90% of particles had diameter below 372 nm and 1170 nm, respectively. The turbidity increased with increasing gellan concentration from 0.5 to 0.1 which attributed to decreasing of particle size. The rheometry results showed that the lowest viscosity and highest consistency, shear thinning behavior and viscoelastic behavior could be observed at samples containing 0.1% and 0.05 % gellan, respectively. Gas chromatography results showed which increasing caseinate and gellan caused to decrease and increase in encapsulation percent, respectively and the highest level of encapsulation were observed at complex containing 0.1% gellan and 0.1%caseinate.