Development of a multiplex FTIR microfluidic device for in vitro tests on bio-availability of calcium

• Grant number: 18/11657-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: July 01, 2018
• End date: June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Agreement: Innovation Fund Denmark
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Rodrigues Cardoso
• Grantee: Jéssica Freire Feitor
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/01189-0 - Novel aging: technologies and solutions to manufacture novel dairy products for healthy aging, AP.TEM

Abstract

The present proposal is part of the Novel Aging thematic grant (Technologies and solutions to manufacture novel dairy products for healthy aging/FAPESP 2017/01189-0). Osteoporosis, as caused by calcium malabsorption even for individuals with a good dietary calcium intake, affects 75 million people worldwide and is especially a problem for the elderly. Calcium balance in elderly subjects involves factors such as absorption of calcium ions in the intestines, incorporation to the bones, urinary and fecal excretion. Calcium malabsorption is related to the low solubility of most food calcium salts under neutral and alkaline conditions and has been correlated both with age-related insufficient acid production in the stomach and more importantly with insufficient capacity of soluble food derived calcium carriers in the intestines. The knowledge of the bioavailability of calcium ions by combining it with milk derived peptides and hydroxycarboxylates is of nutritional relevance. Thus, the main goal is to develop a microfluidic device coupled to multiplex FT-IR image spectrophotometer capable of simulating intestinal absorption of micronutrient like calcium ions for bioavailability studies. Further, the developed microfluidic device will be used to investigate the bioavailability of calcium ions upon binding to milk derived peptides and hydroxycarboxylates aiming to tailor novel ingredients for improving calcium bioavailability in food. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FEITOR, Jéssica Freire. Microfluidic intestine-on-a-chip as a model for nutrient absorption. 2022. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC/BT) São Carlos.