Fabrication, characteristics and properties of α-lactalbumin fibril-derived hydrogels: Effects of metal ions type

The effects of different valence metal ions on the formation of hydrogels with α-lactalbumin fibrils (ALAF) were comprehensively examined in this study. The properties of hydrogel were generally characterized with water holding capacity (WHC), rheology, texture, DSC and ICP tests. Except FeCl₃, it was shown that KCl, NaCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂, NiCl₂, and AlCl₃ at 90 mM could induce the formation of hydrogels with ALAF (40 mg/mL), and hydrogels formed by high valence metal salts had more good properties (viscoelasticity, WHC, and thermal stability), and the amounts of metal ions released from hydrogels with high valence salts after immersion in deionized water for 90 min were all below 10 %. Among them, the hydrogels fabricated with Mg²⁺ owned a maximum hardness of 35 g, up to 90 % WHC, and marvelous thermal stability. Overall, the finding about ALAF-derived hydrogels may provide some new insights for the utilization of amyloid-like fibrils in food industry.