Intestine-targeted heme iron delivery systems using hemoglobin and fe-chlorophyllin
Innovative delivery systems for heme iron using starch-gel beads and lipid particles to enhance stability, bioavailability, and taste. Ideal for oral supplements targeting intestinal release, these systems improve absorption while minimizing gastrointestinal irritation.
Overview
This solution offers advanced delivery systems for heme iron, utilizing hemoglobin and Fe-chlorophyllin to improve stability, bioavailability, and taste. By employing starch-gel beads and lipid particles, the technology ensures that heme iron remains intact through the upper digestive tract and releases specifically in the intestine. This targeted release enhances iron absorption, making it highly suitable for oral supplements aimed at women and anemic patients.
Technical specifications
Starch-Gel Beads:
- Constructed using gelatinized starch extruded into ethanol to form stable beads.
- Cross-linked to ensure integrity through gastric phases, releasing heme iron in the small intestine via degradation by pancreatic α-amylase.
- Composed of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) materials.
Lipid Particles:
- Encapsulate heme iron in oil droplets or solid lipid matrices.
- Stable in the stomach, with release triggered by intestinal lipases and bile salts.
- Utilize natural lipid digestion pathways for controlled release.
Both systems enhance stability and minimize gastrointestinal irritation, making them adaptable to various supplement formats.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 4, having been validated in a lab environment with ongoing optimization and validation phases for both starch-based and lipid-based carriers, as well as adaptations for iron chlorophyllin. Further in vitro digestion assays and characterization studies are planned to enhance performance and applicability.
About Cornell University
Cornell University is a comprehensive private, land-grant research university with campuses in Ithaca and New York City, combining significant scale with cross-disciplinary breadth. Industry connects through open-access user facilities and prototyping labs, pilot-scale testbeds, and a research and technology park that provide pathways from discovery to demonstration. A statewide extension network and integration with a major hospital system enable real-world deployment, while a graduate campus embedded in New York City’s tech corridor provides direct access to startups, venture investors, and corporate R&D teams. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP management, licensing, startup formation, and corporate partnerships across campuses.
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