Targeted delivery and nanostructured nutrients: the next generation of iron and zinc compounds for human nutrition (NANOCAPS)

• Unité de recherche: INNOSUISSE
• Numéro de projet: 9765.1;7 PFLS-LS
• Titre du projet anglais: Targeted delivery and nanostructured nutrients: the next generation of iron and zinc compounds for human nutrition (NANOCAPS)

Description succincte (Anglais)

Targeted delivery and nanostructured nutrients: the next generation of iron and zinc compounds for human nutrition (NANOCAPS)

Résumé des résultats (Abstract) (Anglais)

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are common nutritional deficiencies worldwide. Currently-available nutritional Fe/Zn compounds have low bioavailability and often cause adverse sensory changes in foods. This project will use nanotechnology and targeted microencapsulation to produce nutritional supplements and food fortificants with substantially higher bioavailability as well as improved sensory characteristics. Fe/Zn nanostructured particles made by flame spray pyrolysis and/or micromilling will be agglomerated to micron size to facilitate their handling and safety. Both the nanoparticles and existing water-soluble Fe/Zn compounds will be microencapsulated to include ¿targeting¿ nutrients into the microcapsule surface, such as polyglutamate chains of folic acid, to bind to specific receptors on the intestine, to release the iron/zinc compounds close to their receptors to increase absorption.