Structural properties, rheological characteristics, and drug delivery efficiency of resveratrol-loaded soybean protein isolate and hemp protein isolate emulsion gels: Synergistic effects of carboxymethyl cellulose incorporation and ultrasound treatment

Abstract Plant protein emulsion gels often show suboptimal mechanical properties. This study aimed to improve the protein secondary structure, rheological behavior, and resveratrol (RES) delivery performance of soybean protein isolate (SPI)–hemp protein isolate (HPI) emulsion gels via carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) incorporation combined with ultrasound treatment. Initially, the degree of protein–polysaccharide grafting increased with the rise in CMC concentrations before decreasing thereafter. The partial conversion of α-helices to β-sheets exposed hydrophobic groups, facilitating the formation of an interpenetrating protein–polysaccharide network. Rheological