Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Significant research strides are taken worldwide to improve alternative protein production to feed the growing population while focusing on using food components such as proteins and bioactive molecules to improve human nutrition and health. In this context, a high-throughput amino acid analysis is critical for the timely development of protein processing technologies to enhance protein functionality. Understanding how much bioactive compounds can be included and how bioactive compounds will be released in gastrointestinal digestion is critical to developing nanodelivery platforms for the effective and efficient encapsulation of bioactive molecules. Also, quantifying amino acid composition in grain and fermentation products is important to optimize their production and processing. Therefore, Acquiring a Waters ACQUITY H-Class PLUS UPLC system is critical for supporting high-throughput analysis in food science research, particularly for amino acids, bioactive molecules, and fermentation metabolites. The system will enhance research capabilities for multiple NSERC-funded projects led by Drs. Bandara, Malalgoda, and Blunt at the University of Manitoba address current analytical limitations due to the aging and underperforming chromatography equipment available. The requested UPLC system provides advanced features and extended technical capabilities currently unavailable to applicants, such as independent temperature programming, improved resolution, and multi-channel detection, enabling precise quantification and characterization necessary for high-quality research outputs. In addition, purchasing Waters ACQUITY H-Class PLUS UPLC system with the fluorescent detector will allow the applicants to conduct amino acid analysis for large sample volumes and generate research data on time. The new evaporating light scattering detector will also allow applicants to extend their analytical capacity to sugar analysis. The new equipment will directly impact ongoing research in nanodelivery system optimization, protein ingredient processing, grain chemistry, and bioconversion of agricultural by-products. It will also facilitate more efficient sample analysis and reduce delays in data collection and student graduation times. Also, the new equipment will enhance the productivity of 34 HQPs currently involved in these projects within the co-applicant research teams, funded by multiple NSERC-funded research projects. Without this UPLC system, there would be significant negative implications, including prolonged project timelines, reduced research quality, and weakened industrial collaborations. The proposed UPLC system will significantly elevate research productivity, maintain competitive funding success, and provide essential training opportunities, ensuring research excellence in food science at the University of Manitoba.