EFFECT OF EPIGALLOCATECHIN GALLATE ON THE PROPERTIES OF GELATIN

Epigallocatechin gallate was added to gelatin, and the changes in the gelatin were characterized to determine the effects of epigallocatechin gallate modification. The microstructural changes in the samples were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Xray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the gel strength and thermal stability of gelatin can be improved by appropriate epigallocatechin gallate addition. The optimal final concentration of epigallocatechin gallate was 1.0 g l(-1) in a gelatin solution (66.7 g l(-1)). The concentration was also verified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Covalent bonds were not observed in the epigallocatechin gallate-gelatin samples. Hydrogen bonds were the main molecular interactions observed in the epigallocatechin gallate-gelatin samples. The color of the epigallocatechin gallate-gelatin hydrogels or xerogels was darker because of the epigallocatechin gallate oxidation.