Comprehensive review of emerging analytical methods for pea protein structure analysis: Advances and implications for food science over the last five years

Abstract

This review explores recent advancements in analytical techniques for characterizing pea protein structure. With growing interest in sustainable protein sources, understanding the relationship between pea protein's structure and its functionality has become essential. This review covers a range of methods used to assess the structural properties of pea protein, focusing on the impact of environmental and processing conditions, as well as interactions with other materials, including mid-infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray methods and calorimetric methods. By elucidating these methods, detailed insights into pea protein's structural and conformational properties as well as its dynamics are provided, contributing to enhance their potential applications. Thus, a comprehensive overview of commonly used analytical techniques for pea protein structure characterization in its different organization levels, aiming to offer readers an understanding of these techniques and highlight their relevance in selecting the most suitable method for analyzing complex matrices.