Moreover, non-reacted lactose can absorb moisture and crystallize, in agreement
with the increase of the crystalline peak at 137 C observed by DSC as lactose content increased. In contrast, the residual
triple helix decreased, in accordance with the decrease of intermolecular interactions among protein chains due to the
cross-linking that hindered the rearrangement of the triple-helix. These results agree with the decrease in Young’s moduli
measured by tensile tests.