Freeze-drying of flaxseed oil: application of rice proteins as wall material

• Grant number: 19/09079-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Matheus Boeira Braga
• Grantee: Lídia Alves da Silva Paiva
• Home Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nowadays there is a growing interest in the consumption of vegetable proteins, especially due to health benefits, and the vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. Among the vegetable proteins there is the rice protein, which has a large concentration of essential amino acids and does not have gluten and dairy derivatives. Other components that have attracting the interest of consumers are the fatty acids omega-3, which are important antioxidants, protectors of cardiovascular and neurological systems. Among the foods rich in omega-3 is the flaxseed oil, which is extracted from the flax seeds. Recent studies have demonstrated that the consumption of omega-3 can help muscle recovery, showing great benefits especially for athletes and elder people. In association to the proteins, these benefits may be even greater. Thus, the objective of this work is to develop microparticles from microemulsions composed by flaxseed oil and rice protein, using the freeze drying technique. The final product will be a hypoallergenic particulate solid rich in omega-3 and proteins. In addition, the encapsulation process using rice proteins can promote and additional protection to the flaxseed oil.