Progress 06/01/20 to 05/16/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The main target audiences for the project were other researchers in academia, government laboratories, and private companies, especially those with an interest in developing dietary supplements or pharmaceuticals. Changes/Problems:The award was made to the original project director in the summer of 2020, while the PD was on leave. He separated from the University shortly after the award. In October, 2020, I was asked to take over the project since I was acting as the advisor to the doctoral student on whose work the proposal was based. He defended his dissertation in December 2020, but I was not yet the PD. The student then left for a position at another university. Between the restrictions of the pandemic, low salary, and one-year of funding, no suitable scientists applied for the post-doctoral fellow position. The PD summer salary was tapped to increase the stipend and provide moving expenses, yet no one was found to join the project. The lack of a post-doc meant that no microencapsulated phycoerythrin could be synthesized for the in vitro digestibility studies at the University of Georgia. Unexpended funds were returned to NIFA. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One graduate student gained experience in producing microencapsulated probiotic bacteria. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Dr. Kong reported that one graduate student has worked on this project to develop cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) based microencapsulation systems for the delivery of bioactive compounds in the human GI tract. As a preliminary study, probiotics were used as a representative compound. Microencapsulation was employed to protect probiotics during digestion and achieve controlled release at the desired site in the GI tract. In this study, a double emulsion microencapsulation system was designed for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LRGG) using CNC and pea protein isolate (PPI). The primary emulsion was prepared by homogenizing LRGG suspension in the oil phase containing 2% TWEEN 80. The secondary emulsion was prepared by homogenizing the primary emulsion in the outer aqueous phase which consisted of wall materials in deionized water. Different formulations of wall materials were tested with varying compositions of CNC and PPI. A simulated digestion study was performed in two phases, in which the emulsion was first digested in simulated gastric conditions for two hours, followed by digestion in simulated intestinal conditions for one hour. The release and viability of LRGG cells were examined. The results showed that the wall material formulations containing CNC had significantly enhanced emulsion stability. Digestion studies revealed that the CNC and PPI improved the viability of cells during gastric digestion. During the intestinal phase, the oil phase in the primary emulsion was digested, releasing the encapsulated probiotic cells.
Publications
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Progress 06/01/22 to 05/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:Researchers interested in nanocellulose as an encapsulation agent were the primary audience. Changes/Problems:A post-doctoral fellow could not be found for the project, What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A graduate student gained expertise in microencapsulation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A double emulsion microencapsulation system was designed for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LRGG) using CNC and pea protein isolate (PPI). The primary emulsion was prepared by homogenizing LRGG suspension in the oil phase containing 2% TWEEN 80. The secondary emulsion was prepared by homogenizing the primary emulsion in the outer aqueous phase which consisted of wall materials in deionized water. Different formulations of wall materials were tested with varying compositions of CNC and PPI. A simulated digestion study was performed in two phases, in which the emulsion was first digested in simulated gastric conditions for two hours, followed by digestion in simulated intestinal conditions for one hour. The release and viability of LRGG cells were examined. The results showed that the wall material formulations containing CNC had significantly enhanced emulsion stability. Digestion studies revealed that the CNC and PPI improved the viability of cells during gastric digestion. During the intestinal phase, the oil phase in the primary emulsion was digested, releasing the encapsulated probiotic cells.
Publications
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Progress 06/01/21 to 05/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The search for a post-doctoral scientist has been fruitless and a new search has begun in November 2022. However, reviewing prior work here and in recent literature has provided key information on possible chemical modifications of nanocellulose that were not considered by the original principal investigator who submitted the grant. Several of the modifications that were originally proposed may make the target compound of phycobiliprotein unavailable for absorption at the intestinal stage of digestion. Thus, other modifications may be necessary in 2023. Changes/Problems:Although several qualified applicants were identified, they all opted to take other posiitons that paid higher salries or were longer than one year. We hope that another search will net a qualified researcher. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Once a post-doctoral fellow is hired, 1-2 undergraduate students will gain experience in preparation of nanoemulsions. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We expect to start in early 2023 with a goal to begin the in vitro digestion studies as soon as possible to make up for lost time.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Alternate modification approaches have been identified that may be more successful than those originally described in the application.
Publications
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Progress 06/01/20 to 05/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this research includes other researchers and companies producing encapsulated bioactive compounds for functional foods. Trends in research among other research groups have been followed to make sure that our work does not duplicate that of others. Changes/Problems:The addition of lauric acid to nanocellulose appears to impair the digestion of bioactive materials that are encapsulated with modified nanocellulose. Several other modification options exist and the literature is being reviewed for new approaches to include. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One undergraduate student has been identified to assist the post-doctoral research associate. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?PI Camire took part in the NIFA Investigators meeting in 2021. Research findings will likely be presented at the 2023 meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Regular monthly or more frequent meetings with Dr. Fanbin Kong will be scheduled to keep the progress of the project moving forward.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Delays in hiring the post-doctoral fellow have slowed the progress of the project. The PI has been identifying the most promising modification methods to facilitate the rapid development of suitably-modified nanocellulose structures. Goal 1 will be completed by early September and the second goal should be completed shortly thereafter. The research for Goal 3 will begin later in 2022.
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