Edible composite films comprised of wheat gluten as the structural matrix and various concentrations of different lipids as the moisture barrier component were tested for water vapour permeability, dispersion in water, opacity and mechanical properties. The effects of lipids on the functional properties of gluten-based composite films depended on the lipid characteristics and on the interactions between the lipid and the protein structural matrix. Beeswax, a solid and highly hydrophobic lipid, was the most effective lipid for improving moisture barrier properties of films; but these films were opaque, weak and disintegrated easily in water. Combining wheat gluten proteins with a diacetyl tartaric ester of monoglycerides reduced water vapour permeability, increased strength and maintained transparency.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.