DOUBLE-NETWORK COMPOSITE BIOPOLYMER HYDROGELS AS NEXT-GENERATION MEAT ANALOGS

The overall goal of this project is to develop higher quality plant-based meat analogs that accurately simulate real meat, thereby facilitating the transition to a more sustainable, ethical, and environmentally friendly diet.1. Establishment of property-formulation maps for composite double-network biopolymer hydrogels:CDN hydrogels with different attributes will be formed by varying their composition and crosslinking conditions, and their properties will be characterized and compared to real meat.2. Optimization of functional performance of composite DN hydrogels: The impact of freezing, chilling, and cooking on the properties of the CDN hydrogels will be characterized and their properties optimized.3. Development of model plant-based meat analogs:The knowledge gained will be used to create plant-based chicken breast analogs that will be analyzed using a non-vegetarian sensory panel.