Physical aging of dry elastin

Enthalpy relaxation of gelatin in the glassy state

The enthalpy relaxation during the ageing of gelatin in the glassy state was studied for partially crystalline or amorphous materials at different water contents and ageing temperatures. The extent and rate of this relaxation associated with physical ageing were found to increase when the shifted temperature parameter (Ta-Tg) increased. This parameter was able to account for the effects of structure and water content (through Tg) and ageing temperature (Ta).

Enthalpy relaxation of bovine serum albumin and implications for its storage in the glassy state

Two endothermic peaks could be observed for five commercial samples of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The smaller peak observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) corresponded to enthalpy relaxation. This peak was followed on storage of BSA, in its glassy state, after it had been heated above its denaturation temperature. Enthalpy and peak temperature increased with duration of storage. On storage for one week at 60 degrees C, a sample at 8.3% moisture showed a peak at 100 degrees C with an energy value of approximately 2 J per g protein. BSA samples were heated within the DSC sufficiently to eliminate the lower enthalpy peak but without altering the denaturation enthotherm. The amount of physical aging shown by these BSA samples was similar to that of the heat-denatured samples. It was concluded that the heating endotherms of dry BSA reflect both the storage and thermal history of the sample. Possible implications of the enthalpy relaxation of BSA on the behavior of this important protein are considered.