Chitosan: Whey Protein Isolate: An Effective Emulsifier for Stabilization of Squalene Based Emulsions

Chitosan, a biocompatible functional polysaccharide, often in conjunction with proteins is being employed as efficient food delivery systems assuring better stability and release properties.In the present study, the formulation of a stable squalene-in-water emulsion was attempted using chitosan-whey protein isolate complex as the wall material. Six different treatments (A-F) of biopolymers were prepared by varying the pH (4.5 and 5.5) and chitosan concentration (0.25, 0.5 and 1%), whereas the concentration of whey protein isolate was kept constant (10%). Emulsions were prepared by high speed homogenization after addition of squalene at the rate of 30% of the total wall material weight (w/w). Emulsions prepared using 1% chitosan, 10% whey protein isolate at pH 5.5 (Treatment F) was found to be significantly stable (p < 0.05) with an emulsion stability index of 97.05 +/- 0.10%, lowest particle size and highest zeta potential. Rheological analysis revealed that treatment F had the highest viscosity along with the highest consistency coefficient (K) value of 5.85 +/- 0.01. The findings of the study showed that a stable complex prepared by 1% chitosan and 10% whey protein isolate at 5.5 pH can be utilized as a stable mixed delivery system for biologically sensitive lipophilic compounds.