Covalently cross-linked proteins & polysaccharides: Formation, characterisation and potential applications

This review presents recent research conducted on the development of various protein-polysaccharide conjugates, their functional properties and industrial applications. These conjugates are formed by the glycosylation of food proteins with carbohydrates via the Maillard reaction and are capable of improving the functional properties of proteins. The Maillard reaction facilitates covalent bonding between a reducing group of a carbohydrate and an amino group of a protein under controlled conditions of temperature, time, pH, and relative humidity. There is a great deal of interest in modifying the functional properties of proteins and in the use of novel conjugates for various industrial applications. This review discusses various methods and their implications for preparing and characterising these conjugates. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties of conjugates such as solubility, thermal stability, emulsifying activity, emulsion stabilising properties, gelling and foaming properties are also analysed. A novel processing technology, a spinning disc reactor, could be an alternative process for the production of protein–polysaccharide conjugates, with desirable functionality in different food systems.