EMU: Liquid chromatography for determination of amino acids (HPLC-FLD), bioactive compounds and glyceride classes (HPLC-DAD-ELSD)

• Grant number: 23/17236-9
• Support Opportunities: Research Infrastructure Program - Small Medium Sized
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Rosiane Lopes da Cunha
• Grantee: Rosiane Lopes da Cunha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos (FEA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Guilherme Miranda Tavares ; Julian Martínez ; Lilian Regina Barros Mariutti ; Luiz Henrique Fasolin ; Miriam Dupas Hubinger ; Priscilla Efraim

Abstract

The proposal aims to acquire two high-performance liquid chromatographs (HPLC) that have different dedications in order to be optimally used. One of the equipment will be used for the determination and quantification of aminoacids (fluorescence detector - HPLC-FLD), while the other will be used for the characterization of bioactive compounds and classes of glycerides (diode array and evaporative light scattering detectors - HPLC-DAD-ELSD). Liquid chromatography is a versatile, relatively simple and well-developed technique, explaining its current vital analytical role in scientific research for the separation and quantification of different compounds, allowing deeper investigations into the research carried out and, consequently, increases its scientific impact. In this sense, several liquid chromatographs can be found in several research laboratories, including FEA and other units at UNICAMP, but they are intensely used for evaluating scientific research results, justifying the proposed acquisition. Both equipment are essential for obtaining reliable results. However, the available configurations are not sufficient to meet the research demands of the proposing team. The team is composed by 12 professors from FEA/UNICAMP (around ¼ of the staff) and 2 professors from UFSCar, all with research in the food field. The application of the equipment includes a wide variety of studies, with the main focus being the identification of the amino acid composition of emerging proteins, the impact of extraction processes on the quality of protein and bioactive ingredients obtained from varied alternative sources, of bioactive compounds from Brazilian biomes, in addition to evaluating lipid digestion, seeking to understand the absorption of these compounds throughout the gastrointestinal tract. In this way, the proposal aims to leverage ongoing research and drive advances in associated areas of knowledge, providing the development of healthier foods obtained in a more sustainable way. (AU)