Project description
Artificial cells supplement food to increase nutritional value
Facing global food shortage and economic stress, synthetic cells could offer a solution to address nutritional threats, particularly for the elderly. Synthetic cells are lipid-based vesicles made of essential fatty acids and packed with vitamins and nutrients that support immunity. They serve as affordable nutritional supplements that can be produced at large-scale and integrated into generic food matrices to enhance their nutritional value. Funded by the European Research Council, the NutriCells project aims to develop nourishing synthetic cells specifically designed to counteract deficiencies in the immune and neurological systems, supporting the aging body.
Objective
Global food shortage together with economical stress poses a nutritional threat to various populations. For elders, food shortage affects health and well-being and is directly associated with immune and neurological deficiencies. Synthetic cells (SC) – lipid-based vesicles composed of essential fatty acids and loaded with immune-supporting vitamins and nutrients have been suggested as economical nutritional supplements that can be produced at large-scale and integrated into generic food matrices to improve their nutritional value. In this research program, we propose to develop nourishing SC targeted to deficiencies of the immune and neurological systems, to support the aging body.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsHost institution
32000 Haifa
Israel