# Self-assembly mechanisms of wheat gluten peptides: Modulating interfacial behavior and foaming properties

## TL;DR

This study shows how self-assembled wheat gluten peptides improve foam stability and elasticity in food systems.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is demonstrating how self-assembled wheat gluten peptide nanoparticles enhance interfacial behavior and foam properties.

## Key findings

- WGPM-NPs increased foaming capacity by 128.3% and foam stability by 39.1%.
- Interfacial layers showed solid-like elasticity and strain-hardening behavior.
- Self-assembly tuning effectively improves long-term foam stability.

## Abstract

Foam performance plays a critical role in food systems by influencing texture and stability. This study investigates how the self-assembly of wheat gluten protein peptides (WGPs) affects foaming behavior and interfacial properties. Self-assembled WGP gel nanoparticles (WGPM-NPs, 3–10 kDa) produced interfacial layers with higher interfacial expansion viscoelastic modulus (E) and elastic sub-modulus (Ed), resulting in enhanced foaming capacity (128.3 ± 22.3 %) and foam stability (39.1 ± 3.3 %). The interfacial layers stabilized by WGPM-NPs also exhibited increased composite modulus and strain-hardening behavior during expansion and compression, forming a highly elastic, solid-like two-dimensional gel interface that combines rigidity and flexibility. These characteristics contributed to improved long-term foam stability. Overall, the findings demonstrate that leveraging WGP self-assembly is an effective strategy to improve foam performance and regulate interfacial behavior, offering new insights into the application of self-assembled peptide gel nanoparticles in functional food systems.

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•Molecular changes influenced the air–water interfacial behavior of the system.•The interfacial layer stabilized by WGPM-NPs exhibited an enhanced foaming capacity.•This layer also demonstrated a solid-like elastic behavior and a greater stability.•Self-assembly tuning enhances the foam performance and the interfacial behavior

Molecular changes influenced the air–water interfacial behavior of the system.

The interfacial layer stabilized by WGPM-NPs exhibited an enhanced foaming capacity.

This layer also demonstrated a solid-like elastic behavior and a greater stability.

Self-assembly tuning enhances the foam performance and the interfacial behavior