IMDEA Materials launches innovative project to enhance bioavailability of polyphenolic compounds in food
- The BIOCOMAT project aims to improve capsule-based delivery systems for polyphenolic compounds.
- These compounds are valued for their beneficial health properties. However, their inherent instability means they are often not properly absorbed by the human body.
A new research project at IMDEA Materials Institute is tackling a significant challenge in food science with the aid of materials engineering: designing effective delivery systems for polyphenolic compounds (PCs).
Found abundantly in plant-based foods, these compounds are known for their powerful antioxidant and prebiotic properties, crucial for preventing chronic diseases. However, their instability and limited bioavailability in the human body hinder their full potential.
The BIOCOMAT project aims to address these challenges by utilising advanced materials design techniques to create novel delivery systems that improve the stability and controlled release of polyphenols when consumed in capsules.
By leveraging cutting-edge layer-by-layer encapsulation methods, the IMDEA Materials team intends to design capsules with precise control over the morphology of their polysaccharide and protein layers.
This innovation will help enhance the bioavailability of these bioactive compounds, ensuring they are more accessible to the body for maximum health benefits.
Research on the project (supervised by Dr. Maciej Haranczyk) will be led by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Sabina Lachowicz-Wisniewska.
Dr. Lachowicz-Wisniewska brings a wealth of expertise in food technology to BIOCOMAT, specifically in the study of bioactive compound stability and bioavailability.
Her work at IMDEA Materials will focus on utilising advanced materials characterisation and data-driven design techniques to improve the delivery of polyphenols, such as anthocyanins, into functional foods.
"Within the BIOCOMAT project, I will be focused on developing innovative methodologies to enhance the bioavailability and stability of these compounds while also integrating advanced imaging, machine learning techniques, and laboratory automation, to streamline the research process," said Dr. Lachowicz-Wisniewska.
A key aspect of the research is integrating advanced tools such as co-focal microscopy, SEM imaging, and nanomechanics to study the structure and stability of the encapsulated PCs.
Furthermore, the project will make use of robot-aided experimentation and machine learning techniques, such as Bayesian optimisation and Design of Experiments (DoE), to fine-tune the composition of these delivery systems efficiently.
The end goal is to develop a Material Acceleration Platform (MAP), offering a versatile and optimised approach for designing polyphenolic compound delivery systems.
"Using data-driven approaches like machine learning allows us to significantly accelerate our development process, ensuring we create robust and scalable solutions for real-world applications," noted Dr. Lachowicz-Wisniewska.
"This project also has the potential to significantly impact the fields of functional foods and nutraceuticals. By improving the effectiveness of polyphenol delivery systems, the research could pave the way for developing new products that address chronic diseases and promote overall health".
"Additionally, the methods and technologies developed in this project could serve as a blueprint for tackling similar challenges in other areas of food and pharmaceutical sciences," she added.
The "Enhancing Bioavailability of Beneficial Polyphenolic Compounds in Food via Advanced Materials Engineering" (BIOCOMAT) project will run from 2024-2026 and is funded by the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 Programme (HORIZON-MSCA-2023) through the European Union under Grant Agreement 101151044. Views and opinions expressed are however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them".
Provided by IMDEA Materials