separations Review Size Separation Techniques for the Characterisation of Cross-Linked Casein: A Review of Methods and Their Applications Norbert Raak 1,*, Raffaele Andrea Abbate 2,3, Albena Lederer 2,3, Harald Rohm 1 and Doris Jaros 1 1 Chair of Food Engineering, Institute of Natural Materials Technology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany;
[email protected] (H.R.);
[email protected] (D.J.) 2 Polymer Separation Group, Department of Analytics, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Straße 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
[email protected] (R.A.A.);
[email protected] (A.L.) 3 Faculty of Mathematics and Science, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +49-351-463-38797 Received: 8 November 2017; Accepted: 8 February 2018; Published: 12 February 2018 Abstract: Casein is the major protein fraction in milk, and its cross-linking has been a topic of scientific interest for many years. Enzymatic cross-linking has huge potential to modify relevant techno-functional properties of casein, whereas non-enzymatic cross-linking occurs naturally during the storage and processing of milk and dairy products. Two size separation techniques were applied for characterisation of these reactions: gel electrophoresis and size exclusion chromatography. This review summarises their separation principles and discusses the outcome of studies on cross-linked casein from the last ~20 years. Both methods, however, show limitations concerning separation range and are applied mainly under denaturing and reducing conditions. In contrast, field flow fractionation has a broad separation range and can be easily applied under native conditions.