Research Background:

During her undergraduate, Yunan mainly focused on protein self-assembled structures and the applications in functional foods, including the following highlights:

1. The construction of protein self-assembly delivery system: based on the interaction of zein and hydrophobic nutrient components and the self-assembly of nano- and micro-scale aggregated structures, such as nanoparticles and micro-emulsions, to achieve efficient transport and utilization of functional factors and evaluate their digestive properties and bioavailability.

2. The structural modification of polyphenol interface: based on the loading capacity and stability of the nutrient delivery systems, using the plant polyphenol-metal composite structure and the interface properties to modify the micro- or nanoparticles and achieve high loading of hydrophobic functional factors and long-term stability.

Current Research:

My current research focuses on lactoferrin (LF) encapsulation to enhance its thermal and pH stability in different food matrices. Taking advantages of the iron-binding capacity of LF, I am also working on developing novel LF-iron co-delivery systems for iron fortification to improve iron bioavailability while minimizing the iron oxidation and undesirable sensory attributes.