Han Lingyu, Zhang Cunzhi, Dong Nuo, Yang Jixin, Zheng Qiuyue, Zhang Xiaobo, Liu Ronggang, Cao Jijuan, Hu Bing
Key Lab of Biotechnology and Bioresources Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, China.
Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, Wrexham University, Plas Coch, Mold Road, Wrexham LL11 2AW, UK.
Foods. 2025 Jul 28;14(15):2642. doi: 10.3390/foods14152642.
Segregative phase separation technology demonstrates substantial potential for precise molecular fractionation in food and biomaterial applications. The investigation elucidates the causal relationship between viscosity variations and phase separation dynamics, which govern molecular fractionation in GA/HPMC composite systems. By conducting a comparative analysis of two GA subtypes (CGA and SGA) and three HPMC grades with controlled viscosity gradients, we utilized gel permeation chromatography-multi-angle laser light scattering (GPC-MALLS) coupled with rheological characterization to elucidate the critical relationship between continuous phase viscosity and fractionation efficiency. Notably, increasing HPMC viscosity significantly intensified phase separation, resulting in selective enrichment of arabinogalactan-protein complexes: from 6.3% to 8.5% in CGA/HPMC systems and from 27.3% to 36.5% in SGA/HPMC systems. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that elevated HPMC viscosity enhances thermodynamic incompatibility while slowing interfacial mass transfer, synergistically driving component redistribution. These findings establish a quantitative viscosity-fractionation relationship, offering theoretical insights for optimizing GA/HPMC systems in emulsion stabilization, microencapsulation, and functional biopolymer purification via viscosity-mediated phase engineering.
分离相分离技术在食品和生物材料应用中的精确分子分级方面显示出巨大潜力。该研究阐明了粘度变化与相分离动力学之间的因果关系，而相分离动力学控制着GA/HPMC复合体系中的分子分级。通过对具有可控粘度梯度的两种GA亚型（CGA和SGA）和三种HPMC等级进行对比分析，我们利用凝胶渗透色谱 - 多角度激光光散射（GPC - MALLS）结合流变学表征来阐明连续相粘度与分级效率之间的关键关系。值得注意的是，增加HPMC粘度显著增强了相分离，导致阿拉伯半乳聚糖 - 蛋白质复合物的选择性富集：在CGA/HPMC体系中从6.3%增加到8.5%，在SGA/HPMC体系中从27.3%增加到36.5%。进一步的机理研究表明，HPMC粘度升高增强了热力学不相容性，同时减缓了界面传质，协同驱动组分重新分布。这些发现建立了定量的粘度 - 分级关系，为通过粘度介导的相工程优化GA/HPMC体系在乳液稳定、微胶囊化和功能性生物聚合物纯化方面提供了理论见解。
