Phaeodactylum tricornutum extracts as structuring agents for food applications: Physicochemical and functional properties

Abstract

Microalgae are a promising and sustainable ingredient for functional food development, due to their rich nutritional and health-promoting effects. Moreover, microalgae generally contain large amounts of structural biopolymers such as proteins and polysaccharides, which might display interesting technological features and rheological properties. This study aims at unravelling Phaeodactylum tricornutum extracts (PTE) potential role as structuring agents for food applications. Distilled water and a mixture of water/ethanol (75/25, v v1) were used as solvents. Extracts physicochemical properties were analysed regarding protein folding, molecular weight distribution, polymer interactions, and their main functional groups. PTE thermal properties, rheological behaviour, and emulsifying capacities were also evaluated. PTE showed different gelling mechanisms, with 40°C aqueous purified extracts reporting the strongest gel character. Moreover, 80°C ethanolic purified extracts showed the greatest emulsifying potential, with an initial emulsification index (EI) of around 90%. This EI decreased to 60% after 10 days, but remained constant for the following 15 days, showing an interesting emulsion stability. Overall, these findings suggest that PTE have a great potential for further application as thickening or emulsifier food ingredients. This diatom revealed to be a valuable source of structurally diverse, technologically active compounds.