SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY OF NANOSTRUCTURED LIPID SYSTEMS WITH ESSENTIAL OILS: CYTOTOXICITY AND BIOACCESSIBILITY STUDIES FOR POST-HARVEST USE

• Grant number: 25/24989-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agricultural Engineering - Process Engineering of Agricultural Products
• Principal Investigator: Marcos David Ferreira
• Grantee: Fernanda Ramalho Procopio
• Supervisor: Antonio Augusto Vicente
• Host Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade do Minho (UMinho), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/17653-9 - Development of nanoencapsulated natural fungicides for postharvest fruit preservation, BP.PD

Abstract

Climate change has severely impacted agriculture, leading to significant losses in food production and quality. Post-harvest activities are also affected, compromising product shelf life and increasing the risk of pest and disease infestation. In the search for efficient conservation alternatives with a lower environmental impact, essential oils (EOs) are emerging as a significant trend in agribusiness. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of combining these extracts with post-harvest coatings to inhibit phytopathogen growth and serve as an alternative to conventional synthetic agents. However, the lack of studies evaluating the safety limits of EOs in food, combined with their low solubility and stability, limits their application. Nanoencapsulation of EOs in nanostructured lipid systems (NLS) can facilitate the application of these extracts, making them safer, enhancing their properties, and masking undesirable sensory alterations. NLS are interesting for encapsulating EOs because volatile compounds exhibit a greater affinity for lipophilic materials. Typically, these systems are formed from standard food lipid matrices, reducing the risk of toxicity and adverse effects on the human body. However, Brazil's rich biodiversity offers opportunities to explore new lipid matrices, such as Amazonian vegetable oils, oleoresins, and fats. In this context, this proposal aims to develop innovative NLSs based on Amazonian plant-based lipid matrices and EOs, aiming to improve post-harvest fruit preservation and ensure safe application in food. To this end, the pure EOs and those incorporated into NLSs will be characterized for particle size and morphology before and after in vitro digestion. Furthermore, to ensure their viability as coatings in fresh foods, the NLSs will be evaluated for cytotoxicity in Caco-2 cells. Thus, the aim is to develop a sustainable plant-based alternative for post-harvest preservation of fruits and vegetables.