Abstract:

The structural dependence of the self-aggregation behavior and size of micelles of fatty acid oat β-glucan esters
(FAOGEs) was investigated in this study. The structure parameters of FAOGEs tested included molecular weight (Mw) of
β-glucan (7.4 × 104 –16.8 × 104 D), degree of substitution (DS) of oat β-glucan fatty acid esters (0.010 ± 0.002–0.030 ± 0.002),
and acyl chain length (6, 8 and 10). The results showed that the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) of FAOGEs with
different structures was in the range of 0.050–0.165 mg/mL and increased significantly with decreasing DS and acyl chain
length and with increasing Mw of oat β-glucan. The effect of structure parameters of FAOGE on CAC was in the decreasing
order: acyl chain length > DS > Mw of oat β-glucan. The average micelle size of FAOGEs with different structures was in
the range of 264.7–530.9 nm and increased significantly with decreasing DS and acyl chain length and with increasing Mw
of oat β-glucan. The effect of structure parameters of FAOGE on micelle size was in the decreasing order: DS > acyl chain
length > Mw of oat β-glucan.

Key words: fatty acid oat β-glucan esters, structure, critical aggregation concentration, size