New insights into protein–polysaccharide complex coacervation: Dynamics, molecular parameters, and applications

Abstract

Abstract For more than a decade, the discovery of liquid–liquid phase separation within living organisms has prompted colloid scientists to understand the connection between coacervate functionality, phase behavior, and dynamics at a multidisciplinary level. Although the protein–polysaccharide was the first system in which the coacervation phenomenon was discovered and is widely used in food systems, the phase state and relaxation dynamics of protein–polysaccharide complex coacervates (PPCC) have rarely been discussed previously. Consequently, this review aims to unravel the relationship between PPCC dynamics, thermodynamics, molecular architecture, applications, and phase states in past studies. Looking ahead, solving the way molecular architecture spreads to macro‐functionality, that is, establishing the relationship between molecular architecture–dynamics–application, will catalyze novel advancements in PPCC research within the field of foods and biomaterials.

Keywords

• dynamics
• encapsulation
• liquid coacervate
• protein–polysaccharide complex coacervation
• solid precipitate