Polymeric complexes obtained from the interaction of bovine serum albumin and κ-carrageenan

This study aimed to characterize and optimize the formation of polymeric complexes obtained from the interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and κ-carrageenan, in different aqueous systems containing different pH values and various concentrations of polymer and NaCl. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize the process. The proposed polynomial model showed significant adjustment (R2 = 0.84), and the optimal conditions for the formation of carrageenan-BSA polymeric complexes were verified to be 6.40 mg of κ-carrageenan, 0.58 mol/L NaCl, and pH 6.30. The rheological analysis showed that the polymeric complex had a less viscous character than carrageenan. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry showed that the complex had a more well-differentiated morphology compared to the original biopolymers.