Bioactive Protein Hydrolysates: Preparation, Characterization, and Functional Properties

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 April 2026 | Viewed by 113

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
Interests: protein hydrolysates; self-assembly; intact absorption; applications of bioactive protein hydrolysates
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
College of Food Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
Interests: bioactive peptides; self-assembly; protein nutrition; bioavailability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive protein hydrolysates have emerged as promising ingredients in the food, nutraceutical, and biomedical fields due to their diverse health-promoting properties. These hydrolysates, obtained from plant, animal, or microbial proteins through enzymatic or fermentation processes, exhibit multifunctional activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, and immunomodulatory effects. Recent progress in advanced preparation technologies and analytical tools has provided new insights into their structural features, self-assembly behaviors, and structure–function relationships. Moreover, their incorporation into delivery systems, functional foods, and biomaterials has broadened their applications, improving bioavailability and targeted efficacy. Despite their potential, challenges remain in large-scale production, stability, and regulatory approval. This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews on the preparation methods, structural characterization, functional mechanisms, and novel applications of bioactive protein hydrolysates, with the goal of fostering innovation and translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions.

Dr. Zhiyang Du
Dr. Yajuan Li
Prof. Dr. Zhipeng Yu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • protein hydrolysates
  • bioactive peptides
  • structural characterization
  • enzymatic hydrolysis
  • self-assembly
  • functional properties
  • antioxidant activity
  • nutraceutical applications

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 2838 KB  
Article
Zinc Chelates from Low-Molecular-Weight Donkey-Hide Gelatin Peptides: Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation of In Vitro Antioxidant Activity
by Wenxuan Han, Lili Yang, Yujie Fan, Yanyan Lv, Xiao Li, Yuhang Li, Siyu Li and Rong Liang
Foods 2025, 14(21), 3671; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14213671 - 28 Oct 2025
Abstract
This study synthesized a low-molecular-weight donkey-hide gelatin peptide–zinc chelate (LMW DHGP–Zn) using peptides derived from donkey-hide gelatin. Under optimized conditions (zinc concentration of 32 mg/mL, peptide-to-zinc mass ratio of 8:1, pH 6.5, 60 °C, 70 min), a maximum chelation rate of 41.34% ± [...] Read more.
This study synthesized a low-molecular-weight donkey-hide gelatin peptide–zinc chelate (LMW DHGP–Zn) using peptides derived from donkey-hide gelatin. Under optimized conditions (zinc concentration of 32 mg/mL, peptide-to-zinc mass ratio of 8:1, pH 6.5, 60 °C, 70 min), a maximum chelation rate of 41.34% ± 0.23% was achieved. Comprehensive characterization via scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, zeta potential, particle size, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and circular dichroism confirmed substantial structural and physicochemical alterations post-chelation. After chelation, the surface charge is neutralized, and the distribution of particles is more even. Furthermore, analysis indicated an elevated content of acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid), and spectroscopic data confirmed the coordination of zinc ions with amino and carboxyl groups on the peptide. Consequently, the LMW DHGP–Zn chelate demonstrated significantly enhanced ABTS radical cation scavenging activity. These results provide a scientific foundation for its potential application as a natural antioxidant in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Full article
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