To design and characterize zeaxanthin (Zea) and zeaxanthin dipalmitate (ZeaDP) oil-in-water nanoemulsions with various lipids – model systems
Evaluate the stability and cytotoxicity of Zea and ZeaDP nanoemulsion formulations
Evaluate the influence of lipid composition on the bioaccessibility and cellular uptake/transport of zeaxanthin – model systems
To determine the bioaccessibility and cellular uptake/transport of zeaxanthin from food samples
Obtaining, characterizing and evaluating the stability of emulsions from zeaxanthin-rich food samples with different lipids
To determine the bioaccessibility, cellular uptake and transport of zeaxanthin from food based emulsions
· To obtain pure carotenoids (zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin dipalmitate)
· To characterize lipid matrices (vegetal oil/animal fat) by GC-MS and HPLC
· Developing free and polymer-coated nanoemulsions
· Characterizing the nanoemulsions and determining the efficiency of carotenoid encapsulation.
- Evaluation of the stability of zeaxanthin formulations at various pHs, ionic strength and temperatures, during storage
- Evaluations of cytotoxicity of zeaxanthin nanoemulsions on intestinal and retinal cells in vitro models
- Determination of bioaccessibility of zeaxanthin from nanoemulsions, depending on the type of oil
- Determination of the cellular uptake/transport of zeaxanthin in cellular model systems
- Raman mapping of zeaxanthin in intestinal and retinal cells
Objectives 2023
Characterization of carotenoid and lipid composition of food samples by HPLC-PDA and GC-MS
Bioaccessibility and cellular uptake/transport of zeaxanthin from food samples (sea buckthorn SB, goji GB, spirulina S)
Obtaining, characterizing and evaluating the stability of emulsions from food samples (SBE, GBE, SBE) with different lipids