Integrated platform for delivery of nutraceuticals and micronutrients

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It is clear that a healthy diet can significantly reduce the chances of developing devastating chronic or fatal diseases, including cancers,cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoprosis and neurodegenerative diseases. The new Canada Food Guide recommends a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. The diet of most Canadians falls short of this high standard, and at least a third of the world's population, living in developing countries have no realistic hope to obtain such a diet. While Canada is a rich country, due to its geography and climate, itis very difficult, and expensive to provide the recommended fresh foods. Food fortification promises a way to provide the critical, active nutritive ingredients present in fresh fruits and vegetables. To produce affordable functional food products containing active micronutrients and nutraceuticals,technology is needed for protecting these reactive compounds through manufacturing, distribution, retail and in-house food preparation, followed by controlled release at the desired site in the digestive system, and ensuring their efficient absorption into the body.We propose to develop integrated nutrient delivery technology for the protection, tergetted delivery, controlled release and enhanced absorption of active micronutrients and nutraceuticals through food systems.We propose to develop microemulsion based delivery systems for hydrophobic and hydrophilic active ingredients. We will immobilize the micronemulsions in glassy polymer coating, protecting the active ingredient, until released in a selected area of the digestive system. In this program we will develop microemulsion systems specifically for hydrophobic and hydrophilic active ingredients separately. When successful, we will test the concepts of incorporating one or more active ingredients in each of the microemulsion phases followed by microencapsulation.The products will be tested in typical food carriers. Three doctorate and some 12 undergraduate students will be trained.