MicroLub: A novel microgel-based superlubricating formulation for fat replacement applications

MicroLub：一种基于微凝胶的新型超级润滑配方，适用于脂肪替代应用

• 批准号: EP/X03514X/1
• 负责人: Anwesha Sarkar
• 金额: $ 16.47万
• 依托单位: University of Leeds
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FX03514X%2F1
• 关键词: MicroLub; novel; microgel; based; superlubricating

Reducing fat in foods is a viable strategy to significantly decrease calorie intake and thus, fat replacer molecules are likely to be important in the race towards reversing the obesity crisis. The commercial fat replacer market is expected to considerably increase to 24 billion Euros by 2027, largely fueled by the growing public awareness for reduced-fat foods. However, the fat replacer industry faces severe technological challenges because the currently marketed fat replacers do not fully emulate the lubrication performance of full fat counterparts and thus fail to achieve consumers' expectations. The aim of the MicroLub project is to translate an innovative microgel-based technology with superlubricity developed in the context of the ERC project LubSat, towards the development of a more effective fat replacer ingredient. The technological innovation proposed includes deformable polypeptide-based microgels with grafted saccharides in a patchy heterogenous morphology. The exposed polypeptide region lead to a transient colloidal coating of the oral surfaces via hydrophobic interactions, whilst the grafted saccharides hydrogen bond with water molecules to create a microporous hydrated scaffold. This technology thus combines boundary and fluid film lubrication, unachieved by any fat replacement technologies available to date. Working through 4 work-packages, we will validate the techno-commercial feasibility of the formulation in close cooperation with experienced industrial partners and create the framework for potential licensing of this breakthrough technology to key industrial players. The expected outcomes aim to demonstrate the up-scaling feasibility and validation of technical performance against competition, filing a licensable patent, and developing a provisional business model that will allow us to build strategic alliances with selected industrial partners to take forward the commercialization of this technology and finally contribute towards reducing obesity

减少食物中的脂肪是一个可行的策略，可显着减少卡路里的摄入量，因此，在逆转肥胖危机的比赛中，脂肪替代物分子可能很重要。预计到2027年，商业脂肪替代品市场预计将大大增加到240亿欧元，这在很大程度上是由于公众对减少脂肪食品的认识的越来越多。但是，脂肪替代品行业面临严重的技术挑战，因为当前销售的脂肪替代品并未完全模仿全脂脂肪的润滑性能，因此无法达到消费者的期望。 Microub项目的目的是翻译基于创新的微凝胶技术，其在ERC Project Lubsat的背景下开发了超纯度，以开发更有效的脂肪替代品成分。提出的技术创新包括在斑驳的异源形态中带有糖糖的可变形多肽的微凝胶。裸露的多肽区域通过疏水相互作用导致口腔表面的瞬时胶体涂层，而移植后的糖水氢键与水分子键形成微孔水分支架。因此，该技术结合了边界和流体膜润滑，迄今为止可用的任何脂肪替代技术未能实现。通过4个工作包工作，我们将与经验丰富的工业合作伙伴密切合作，验证该制定的技术商业可行性，并为对关键工业参与者的这种突破性技术的潜在许可创建框架。预期的结果旨在证明针对竞争，提交可授权专利的技术绩效的可行性和验证，并开发出临时业务模型，这将使​​我们能够与选定的工业合作伙伴建立战略性联盟，以推动这项技术的商业化，并最终有助于降低肥胖症

项目成果

Glycation influencing lubrication: Tribology principles derived from nature to inspire future food colloid design

• DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2023.101782
• 发表时间: 2023-12
• 期刊: Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science
• 作者: A. Sarkar;Khalid Gul