The Food and Biomaterials Engineering Lab aims to address critical challenges related to the microbe-material interface within agricultural and food systems. We are using a combination of multidisciplinary approaches encompassing food process engineering, material science, mathematical modeling, microbiology, molecular imaging, and high-speed photography to answer key scientific questions. The primary research areas are:
- Novel food processing for improving food safety and security
- Bio-based delivery systems utilizing food by-products and waste
- Functional materials for enhancing food safety and reducing food loss
- AI-enabled food system design for high-efficiency production
Biobased Target Delivery Systems
Innovations in bio-based delivery systems can address critical challenges in food safety and sustainability. By harnessing the intrinsic properties of bio-based carriers, these targeted delivery systems can stabilize the encapsulated chemicals/microbes and improve the binding affinity of biocarriers, leading to enhanced inactivation of pathogenic and spoilage microbes on food and food contact surfaces. This can reduce the reliance on conventional synthetic sanitizers and potentially decrease water and energy consumption. Furthermore, these bio-based microcarriers can serve as targeted delivery systems for bioactives, promoting human health.
Selected References:
- Tao, M., Chen, J., Huang, K.* Bio-based antimicrobial delivery systems for improving microbial safety and quality of raw or minimally processed foods. Current Opinion in Food Science, 2021, 41: 189-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2021.04.011
- Huang, K., Dou, F., Nitin, N. Bio-based sanitizer delivery systems for improved sanitation of bacterial and fungal biofilms. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2019, 11(19): 17204-17214. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b02428
- Tao, M., Huang, K.* Bio-based chicken eggshell powder for efficient delivery of low-dose silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to enhance their antimicrobial activities against foodborne pathogens and biofilms. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2022, 5 (9), 4390-4399. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.2c00546
- Liu, S., Tao, M., Huang, K.* Encapsulation of Mānuka essential oil in yeast microcarriers for enhanced thermal stability and antimicrobial activity. Food and Bioprocess Technology, 2021, 14(12): 2195-2206. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-021-02714-y
- Huang, K., Nitin, N. Antimicrobial particle based novel sanitizer for enhanced decontamination of fresh produce. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2019, 10.1128/AEM.02599-18. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02599-18
Functional Materials and Interfaces
Our group is devoted to exploring cutting-edge materials, such as coatings, hydrogels, and 3D scaffolds, to address significant challenges at the microbe-material interface across diverse food and agricultural applications. One of our core pursuits involves developing versatile, surface-independent, antimicrobial and antifouling coatings. These strategies can mitigate cross-contamination risks from food contact surfaces, thereby curtailing the spread of pathogenic and spoilage microbes across successive food batches. Another area of interest is unearthing biobased materials and scaffolds that promote the colonization, growth, and metabolic activity of microbes, even under severe environmental conditions.
Selected References:
- Liu, Y., Xu, B., Li, Y., Quek, S., Huang, K.* Eco-friendly and self-sanitizing microporous cellulose sponge (MCS)-based cooling media for mitigating microbial cross-contamination in the food cold chain. Advanced Science, 2024. http://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202309753
- Huang, K., Yang, X., Ma, Y., Sun, G., Nitin, N. Incorporation of antimicrobial bio-based carriers onto poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) surface for enhanced antimicrobial activity. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2021, 13(30): 36275-36285. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c07311
- Si, Y., Zhang, Z., Wu, W., Fu, Q., Huang, K., Nitin, N., Ding, B., Sun, G. Daylight-driven rechargeable antibacterial and antiviral nanofibrous membranes for bioprotective applications. Science Advances, 2018, 4: eaar5931. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aar5931
- Huang, K., Yi, J., Young, G.M., Nitin, N. Cell-based carriers incorporated antimicrobial coatings on diverse food contact surfaces for preventing cross-contamination of fresh produce. Food Control, 2022, 134: 108700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108700
AI-Enabled Food System Designs
Many existing food system designs draw from established practices, leading to notable food safety concerns and significant waste/loss. Our research aims to create a rapid-response platform utilizing cost-effective, food-grade materials that integrate autonomous sampling and detecting functions. We will also introduce innovative decision-support tools to enhance food traceability and sustainability. This integrated approach is designed to boost production efficiency and preemptively address biological and chemical risks throughout the whole food supply chain.
Selected References:
- Guo, M., Tian, S., Wang, W., Xie, L., Xu, H., Huang, K.* Biomimetic leaves with immobilized catalase for machine learning-enabled validating fresh produce sanitation processes. Food Research International, 2024, 179, 114027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114028