CHAPTER 4. Food Proteins as Biomaterial for Delivery Functions

The inherent structural and functional properties of food proteins of animal, plant or recombinant sources, such as amphiphilic, charged, neutral and hydrophobic side-chain functional groups, high nutritional value, binding potential, self-assembly, emulsion, foaming and gelling properties, have stimulated studies of their application in the encapsulation, protection and delivery of food bioactive compounds. This chapter discusses various protein-based nano- and microencapsulation systems and fabrication, characterization and evaluation techniques that have been employed for the encapsulation, protection and controlled release of various bioactive molecules with improved bioavailability and permeability facilitated by enhanced solubility, stability and bioaccessibility and reduced size.