On the Crucial Importance of the pH for the Formation and Self-Stabilization of Protein Microgels and Strands

Stable suspensions of protein microgels are formed by heating salt-free beta-lactoglobulin solutions at concentrations up to about C = 50 g. L(-1) if the pH is set within a narrow range between 5.75 and 6.1. The internal protein concentration of these spherical particles is about 150 g . L(-1) and the average hydrodynamic radius decreases with increasing pH from 200 to 75 nm. The formation of the microgels leads to an increase of the pH, which is a necessary condition to obtain stable suspensions. The spontaneous increase of the pH during microgel formation leads to an increase of their surface charge density and inhibits secondary aggregation. This self-stabilization mechanism is not sufficient if the initial pH is below 5.75 in which case secondary aggregation leads to precipitation. Microgels are no longer formed above a critical initial pH, but instead short, curved protein strands are obtained with a hydrodynamic radius of about 15-20 nm.