Investigation of food microstructure and texture using atomic force microscopy: A review

Abstract

We review recent applications of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to characterize microstructural and textural properties of food materials. Based on interaction between probe and sample, AFM can image in three dimensions with nanoscale resolution especially in the vertical orientation. When the scanning probe is used as an indenter, mechanical features such as stiffness and elasticity can be analyzed. The linkage between structure and texture can thus be elucidated, providing the basis for many further future applications of AFM. Microstructure of simple systems such as polysaccharides, proteins, or lipids separately, as characterized by AFM, is discussed. Interaction of component mixtures gives rise to novel properties in complex food systems due to development of structure. AFM has been used to explore the morphological characteristics of such complexes and to investigate the effect of such characteristics on properties. Based on insights from such investigations, development of food products and manufacturing can be facilitated. Mechanical analysis is often carried out to evaluate the suitability of natural or artificial materials in food formulations. The textural properties of cellular tissues, food colloids, and biodegradable films can all be explored at nanometer scale, leading to the potential to connect texture to this fine structural level. More profound understanding of natural food materials will enable new classes of fabricated food products to be developed.

Exploring the impact of acorn extract on the quality and taste of beef meat burgers

“…characterized the fibril formation in cowpea, chickpea, and lentil proteins by using AFM, and evaluated the changes in the fibril's dimensions at different heat treatment times as a function of the height and contour length of the images. The characterization of the surface of proteins aggregates could be related to their capacity to interact with other compounds such as water or oil (Bildyukevich et al, 2020;Wen et al, 2020). In this work, the smallest microparticles were obtained at pH 9 (Figure H7) and 3 MF cycles and were more stable due to water-protein interactions.…”

The safety of nanomaterials in food production and packaging

“…SPM uses a precise but straightforward mechanical process based on scanning the specimen surface to determine associated superficial properties ( Bruno, 2018 ). One of the most extensively used types of SPM is atomic force microscopy (AFM) ( Wen et al, 2020 ).…”

Whether the Research on Ethanol–Water Microstructure in Traditional Baijiu Should Be Strengthened?

“…The size and concentration of mesoscopic systems can also be determined by DLS and SAXS [ 28 ]. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) functions based on the interaction between the probe and the sample, and can recognize three-dimensional imaging with nanometer resolution, especially in the vertical direction [ 29 ]. MD simulation is a computer simulation method that investigates the physical movements of atoms and molecules, using the interaction potential between atoms or the force field of molecular mechanics and making it possible to track and understand the structure and dynamics during the training of individual atoms [ 30 ].…”