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. 2024 Oct 28:12:1483966.
doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1483966. eCollection 2024.

Electrospun fibers of zein and pea protein to create high-quality fibrous structures in meat analogs

Letícia G da Trindade  1 , Letícia Zanchet  2 , Fabiana Perrechil Bonsanto  1 , Anna Rafaela Cavalcante Braga  1   3
Affiliations

Electrospun fibers of zein and pea protein to create high-quality fibrous structures in meat analogs

Letícia G da Trindade et al. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. .

Abstract

Introduction: The importance of developing plant-based meat similar to animal meat lies in the fact that sensory similarity is a crucial factor in encouraging consumers to adopt this alternative.

Methodology: The present study reports the morphology, hydrophilicity, and thermal analysis of different fibers obtained by the electrospinning method. In the first step of this work, zein and zein/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) in 80% aqueous ethanol solution with varying concentrations of these polymers were investigated.

Results and discussion: It was observed that the diameters of the electrospun fibers are related to the concentration and viscosity of the solutions. Moreover, the addition of small percentages of PEO makes the fibers more hydrophilic and leads to an increase in the polymeric solution viscosity. Because of its low toxicity, PEO is used in various edible products. In the second step of this work, an ideal zein/PEO combination was found to allow the pea protein (PP) to be electrospun. Adding PP to the zein/PEO blend (20:1) leads to a more hydrophilic fiber and improves thermal stability. The results suggest that the zein/PEO and zein/PEO/PP blends can offer an innovative solution to enhance the texture and appearance of plant-based meats. These simulated electrospun fibers can mimic the fibers in animal meat and are a potential alternative to provide a sensory experience as close to animal meat as possible.

Keywords: electrospinning; fibers; innovative food; plant protein; plant-based.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Viscosity is a function of the shear rate of the viscosity for 80% ethanol aqueous solutions of different zein and zein/PEO concentrations: (A) samples Z12, Z12P03 and Z12P1; (B) samples Z20, Z20P03 and Z20P1; (C) samples Z33, Z33P03 and Z33P1.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
SEM images of Z12 (A, B), Z20 (C), Z33 (E), and fibers diameter of Z20 and Z33 (D) and (F), respectively.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
SEM images of Z12P03 (A, B), Z20P03 (D, E), Z33P03 (G, H) and their fibers diameter (C), (F), and (I).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
SEM images of Z12P1 (A), Z20P1 (C), Z33P1 (F) and their fibers diameter (B), (D), and (F).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
ATR-FTIR spectra of zein and PEO powders and electrospun fibers with different amounts of zein and PEO.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Water contact angle measurements of the electrospun zein fibers from samples: (A) Z12P03 (Zein 12% PEO 0.3%), (B) Z20 P03 (Zein 20% PEO 0.3%), and (C) Z33P03 (Zein 33% PEO 0.3%).
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
TG analysis of pure zein, pure PEO, and Z12, 20, and 33 with and without the addition of 0.3% PEO (A) and TG analysis of pure PEO, pure zein, and Z12, 20, and 33 with and without the addition of 1% of PEO (B).
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Viscosity as a function of shear rate (A) and log-log plot of the viscosity as a function of shear rate (B) Z20P1, PP1Z20P1, PP2Z20P1, PP3Z20P1 and PP5Z20P1 polymer solutions.
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
Z20P1 (A, B), PP1Z20P1 (D, E), PP2Z20P1 (G, H), PP3Z20P1 (J, K) and PP5Z20P1 (M, N) and their fibers diameter (C, F, I, L, O).
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10
ATR-FTIR spectra (A), water contact angle (B), and TG curves (C) of Z20P1, PP1Z20P1, PP2Z20P1, PP3Z20P1, and PP5Z20P1 fibers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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