Mixed starch/chitosan hydrogels: elastic properties as modelled through simulated annealing algorithm and their ability to strongly reduce yellow sunset (INS 110) release

[Display omitted] •Chitosan (C) was used to partially replace starch (S) in self-sustaining hydrogels.•Creep-recovery data was modeled using an approach based on the simulated annealing.•S/C hydrogel containing the lowest C replacement showed the greatest elasticity.•S/C hydrogels containing the yellow sunset (INS 110) were covered with aqueous media.•S/C hydrogel with the lowest C replacement presented the lowest INS 110 release. Biopolymers mixtures appear as a strategy to improve sensorial/technological characteristics of gel-like products. Thus, self-sustaining starch (S100/C0) hydrogels were prepared with a partial replacement of the gelling agent by 5.0 % (S95/C5), 7.5 % (S92.5/C7.5), or 10.0 % chitosan (S90/C10), and containing yellow sunset (INS 110). Major visual changes or significant differences on L*a*b* parameters were not observed for starch/chitosan hydrogels. Creep-recovery data was modeled using the simulated annealing algorithm, and relative recovery results showed an increase for S95/C5 (82.6 %), when compared to S100/C0 (72.9 %). After 312 h, chitosan strongly reduced the INS 110 release from hydrogels to an ethanolic solution (3.1∙10−4 and 4.1∙10-3 g/100 mL for S95/C5 and S100/C0, respectively) or to a sucrose solution (1.1∙10-3 and 6.5∙10-3 g/100 mL for S95/C5 and S100/C0, respectively). Such results highlighted that chitosan not only presented a techno-functionality on starch hydrogels by improving their elasticity but also by hindering the release of yellow sunset.