Many Tribology Group publications are Open Access thanks to funding from the EPSRC.
@article{Kew:2023:10.1038/s41467-023-40414-7,
author = {Kew, B and Holmes, M and Liamas, E and Ettelaie, R and Connell, SD and Dini, D and Sarkar, A},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-023-40414-7},
journal = {Nature Communications},
title = {Transforming sustainable plant proteins into high performance lubricating microgels},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40414-7},
volume = {14},
year = {2023}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - With the resource-intensive meat industry accounting for over 50% of food-linked emissions, plant protein consumption is an inevitable need of the hour. Despite its significance, the key barrier to adoption of plant proteins is their astringent off-sensation, typically associated with high friction and consequently poor lubrication performance. Herein, we demonstrate that by transforming plant proteins into physically cross-linked microgels, it is possible to improve their lubricity remarkably, dependent on their volume fractions, as evidenced by combining tribology using biomimetic tongue-like surface with atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, rheology and adsorption measurements. Experimental findings which are fully supported by numerical modelling reveal that these non-lipidic microgels not only decrease boundary friction by an order of magnitude as compared to native protein but also replicate the lubrication performance of a 20:80 oil/water emulsion. These plant protein microgels offer a much-needed platform to design the next-generation of healthy, palatable and sustainable foods.
AU - Kew,B
AU - Holmes,M
AU - Liamas,E
AU - Ettelaie,R
AU - Connell,SD
AU - Dini,D
AU - Sarkar,A
DO - 10.1038/s41467-023-40414-7
PY - 2023///
SN - 2041-1723
TI - Transforming sustainable plant proteins into high performance lubricating microgels
T2 - Nature Communications
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40414-7
UR - https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:001045127700005&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40414-7
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/111224
VL - 14
ER -