Hierarchical Networks of Casein Proteins: An Elasticity Study Based on Atomic Force Microscopy

Uricanu, V.I. and Duits, M.H.G. and Mellema, J. (2004) Hierarchical Networks of Casein Proteins: An Elasticity Study Based on Atomic Force Microscopy. Langmuir, 20 (12). pp. 5079-5090. ISSN 0743-7463

PDF
Restricted to UT campus only: Request a copy
792Kb

Abstract:	2D- and 3D-atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments were performed on single casein micelles (CM) in native state, submerged in liquid, using a home-built AFM instrument. The micelles were immobilized via carbodiimide chemistry to a self-assembled monolayer supported on gold-coated slides. Off-line data analysis allowed the extraction of both surface topography and elastic properties. Relative Young moduli (E) were derived from force-vs-indentation curves, using the Hertz theory. The obtained E values were found to increase with CM diameter, following a straight line dependence. The data showed that temperature, via its influence on both the protein-protein interactions and the composition of the micelle, has a clear effect on the mechanical properties of the CMs: higher temperatures and lower serum casein concentrations result in stiffer micelles. For pH 5.6, effecting calcium phosphate release from the micelles by decreasing the pH does not have a large effect on CM stiffness. On decrease of the pH below 5.0, particulate gels and multilayers were obtained. Their measured elasticity (expressed by an equivalent G'AFM) agrees remarkably well with the storage moduli as measured with a conventional rheometer. Compared to single micelles, gels from nonheated CM suspensions are about 3 orders of magnitude softer. The "softness" of these gels (measured under compression or shear) therefore must come from the microscopic and/or mesoscopic links rather than the micelles themselves.
Item Type:	Article
Copyright:	© 2004 American Chemical Society
Faculty:	Science and Technology (TNW)
Research Group:	Physics of Complex Fluids (PCF)
Link to this item:	http://purl.utwente.nl/publications/59365
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la0363736
Export this item as:	BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager

Show download statistics for this publication

Repository Staff Only: item control page