Crystal structures and morphologies of fractionated milk fat in nanoemulsions

The triacylglycerol (TAG) crystal structures and morphologies of fractionated milk lipids in nanoemulsions were investigated at 4 °C. Droplet size (0.17 versus 1.20 μm), lipid composition (stearin versus olein) and cooling rate (1 versus 10 °C min−1) had an influence on the structural properties. Five crystal polymorphs (α, β′1, β′2, β1, and β2) were formed with either triple and/or double chain length structures in the solid phases of the emulsified systems. X-ray scattering peak intensities were reduced with the nanoemulsion particles. The internal structure of TAG exhibited stacking of individual lamellar layers (3.8–4.2 nm). Various anisometric shapes of fat nanoparticles were formed due to a highly sharp curvature of the nano-size droplets. The shape of olein nanoparticles was more polyhedral compared to the stearin. TAG crystals arranged in a planar-layered organisation at the slower cooling rate. These differences imply that the nanometric confinement of oil droplets modifies the fat crystal habit.