Structure and Dynamics of Aqueous Dispersions of Highly-Branched Monodisperse Phytoglycogen Nanoparticles
Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Phytoglycogen is a natural monodisperse polysaccharide nanoparticle isolated from sweet corn. The particles are highly hydrophilic resulting in high water retention, low viscosity, and extraordinary stability in water. We use neutron scattering to study the structure and dynamics of aqueous dispersions of phytoglycogen. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) showed that the particles have uniform density with radius 17.4 ± 1.6 nm, and allowed the determination of the concentration dependence of the inter-particle spacing, and the hydration number (nH = 22.5 ± 2.5 nm per glucose monomer). Quasielastic neutron scattering showed sub-diffusive motion of the hydration water and provided an independent value of the hydration number (nH = 25.8 ± 4.6 nm per glucose monomer), in agreement with the SANS result. Taken together, the results show that between 250-285% of the hydrated particle mass is due to hydration water.
Author: John Atkinson
Language: English
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2342134113