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Dried porous biomaterials from mealworm protein gels : proof of concept and impact of drying method on structural properties and Zinc retention
Citation Link: https://doi.org/10.15480/882.9531
Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2024-04-18
Sprache
English
TORE-DOI
Journal
Citation
Gels 10 (4): 275 (2024)
Publisher DOI
Scopus ID
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Dried porous materials can be found in a wide range of applications. So far, they are mostly prepared from inorganic or indigestible raw materials. The aim of the presented study was to provide a proof of concept for (a) the suitability of mealworm protein gels to be turned into dried porous biomaterials by either a combination of solvent exchange and supercritical drying to obtain aerogels or by lyophilization to obtain lyophilized hydrogels and (b) the suitability of either drying method to retain trace elements such as zinc in the gels throughout the drying process. Hydrogels were prepared from mealworm protein, subsequently dried using either method, and characterized via FT-IR, BET volume, and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy. Retention of zinc was evaluated via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results showed that both drying methods were suitable for obtaining dried porous biomaterials and that the drying method mainly influenced the overall surface area and pore hydrophobicity but not the secondary structure of the proteins in the gels or their zinc content after drying. Therefore, a first proof of concept for utilizing mealworm protein hydrogels as a base for dried porous biomaterials was successful and elucidated the potential of these materials as future sustainable alternatives to more conventional dried porous materials.
Subjects
aerogel
biobased
lyophilized hydrogel
Tenebrio molitor
zinc
DDC Class
660: Chemistry; Chemical Engineering
670: Manufacturing
Publication version
publishedVersion
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Name
gels-10-00275-v2.pdf
Type
Main Article
Size
3.34 MB
Format
Adobe PDF