Whey protein concentrate hydrogels as bioactive carriers

Two sets of heat-induced hydrogels were prepared from whey protein concentrate (WPC), one set at a constant concentration [15% (w/v)] and varying pHs (pH 5.1-10.0) and the other set at a constant pH (10.0) and varying concentrations (12%,15%, and 18%). At a given pH, the higher the protein concentration, the shorter was the gelation time and the larger were the equilibrium storage modulus (G(infinity)(')) and failure stress. For a given protein concentration, the gelation kinetics and mechanical properties of WPC hydrogels were strongly pH dependent. The swelling behavior of WPC gels was studied at 37.5 degrees C +/- 0.5 degrees C. The equilibrium swelling ratio (SR) was at the minimum when pH of the swelling medium was close to the isoelectric point (pI) of the whey protein, and when the swelling medium pH was far from the pI (from 6.0 to 10.0), the SR increased. In particular, when the pH was higher than the pI, the swelling was highly pH sensitive. The higher the WPC concentration used in preparing the hydrogel, the lower was the SR. The controlled drug release properties of the WPC hydrogels were studied using caffeine as the model drug. Consistent with the swelling behavior of the gels, release was slower when the pH of the medium was lower (pH 1.8) than when it was higher (pH 7.5). The SR and the drug release rate decreased significantly when the gels were surface-coated with alginate. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.