Organic solvent extraction and characterization of Antarctic krill protein with high crystallinity and high molecular weight

A novel extraction method of high-performance Antarctic krill protein (AKP) by organic solvent was proposed. The optimal parameters of the acid pretreatment process were determined by response surface methodology, and then the optimal process of the organic solvent method was determined by an orthogonal test. The effect of the organic solvent method on the hydrogen bond interaction, secondary structure, and molecular weight of AKP was studied by Fourier infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and gel electrophoresis. The result showed that, compared with the AKP extracted by the alkaline solvent method, the AKP extracted by the organic solvent method had more intermolecular hydrogen bonds, more beta-corner, higher crystallinity, and higher molecular weight. High-performance AKP broadens the application of AKP in biomedical materials.