Cross‐linking of bovine and caprine caseins by microbial transglutaminase and their use as microencapsulating agents for n‐3 fatty acids

Bovine and caprine caseins were cross‐linked with microbial transglutaminase (mTG). The mTG‐cross‐linked bovine or caprine casein dispersion, mixed with 14.5% maltodextrin (DE = 40), was used to prepare emulsions with 10.5% algae oil. Oxidative stability of emulsions was evaluated by peroxide values (PVs) and anisidine values. Adding liposoluble rosemary extract rich in carnosic acid and δ‐tocopherol lowered the formation of hydroperoxides and their subsequent decomposition products in emulsions. Emulsions stabilised with liposoluble rosemary extract rich in carnosic acid and δ‐tocopherol were spray‐dried at 180/95 °C. Algae oil microencapsulated with mTG‐cross‐linked bovine casein reduced PV by ≈ 34%, while the algae oil microencapsulated with mTG‐cross‐linked caprine casein with low levels of α_s1‐casein reduced PV by ≈ 42% at 4 weeks of storage at 30 °C. The investigation suggests that liposoluble rosemary extract rich in carnosic acid and δ‐tocopherol effectively protected algae oil during the coating process with mTG‐cross‐linked bovine and caprine caseins. The above results clearly indicated that the choice of milk caseins (bovine vs. caprine) cross‐linked with mTG impacts the oxidative stability of spray‐dried algae oil emulsions (microcapsules) enriched with n‐3 fatty acids.