Conversation between food nanoparticles and gastrointestinal cells: signalling, bioavailability, and healthy ageing

One full scholarship is available in the School of Food Science and Nutrition in 2024, open to full-time candidates. This scholarship covers UK tuition fees plus annual UKRI maintenance for 3.5 years (currently £19,237 in 2024/25). Please note that international applicants are welcome to apply but would need to cover the difference in international tuition fees.<br /> <br /> This fully funded PhD provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in a range of fields relating to Cell Biology, Nanotechnology, Food Science, Immunology, and Biophysics, with potential applications in healthy ageing and prevention of metabolic syndrome.<br />

<p>The importance of food microstructure for health is increasingly recognised. However, its structure-function relation and biological mechanism remain largely undefined.  This PhD aims to employ multidisciplinary approaches to shed lights on the cellular signalling pathways in the mucosal cells of gastrointestinal tract in response to selected bioactive compounds available in the nanostructure of food matrix, and demonstrate their impact on nutrient absorption and tissue regeneration. </p> <p>Micronutrients and bioactive compounds available in daily food are essential for maintaining normal body function, health and general wellbeing. These compounds are embedded in the microstructure of food matrix, which often presents in the form of nanoparticles and can greatly alter the nutrients digestion, absorption and metabolism. Unlike their counterparts in drug delivery, our understanding on these naturally occurring food nanoparticles, their interaction with gastrointestinal cells and the subsequent impacts on cell/tissue regeneration are far from complete. This project will use native tea nanoparticles, which self-assemble by protein, polysaccharide, and polyphenols during tea brewing, as a model system, to demonstrate the capacity of such food nanoparticles on loading and delivery of nutraceutical compounds, to test the hypothesis that food nanoparticles could possess on-site and fast impacts on the cellular redox balance and cross-membrane transportation, subsequently regulating the absorption of nutrients (e.g., collagen peptide, DHA, catechins) and mucosal immune status of the GI tract. The project is expected to establish an in vitro / ex vivo model for evaluating the influence of nano-assemblies in the food matrix on the bioavailability of nutrients, the cross membrane signalling of cells, and the gut microbiome. It will help us to add one more missing piece to the food-body interaction and to sustain healthy ageing.     </p> <p>Specifically, this PhD project will:</p> <ul> <li>Isolate the nanoparticles from tea infusion carrying phenolic compounds, e.g., catechins, theaflavin, etc., and fortify them with antioxidants like flavonoids, anthocyanins, determine the loading efficiency.</li> <li>Perform simulated GI digestion to determine the resistance of tea nanoparticles to digestion and the stability/release of targeted bioactive compounds.</li> <li>Study the internalisation of tea nanoparticles on a co-culture model of epithelial cells and immune cells originating from mouth/intestine, and the influence on oral/intestinal permeability and transportation of nutrients using epithelial tissues.</li> <li>Investigate the influence of tea nanoparticles and their digestion products on bitter taste receptors, ion channels, cell gap junction, and cellular senescence. </li> <li>Using an in vitro gut fermentation model, evaluate the impact of the simulated digestion products of tea nanoparticles on the microbiome of elderlies.  </li> </ul>

<p>Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University's website</a>. Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is Conversation between food nanoparticles and gastrointestinal cells: signalling, bioavailability, and healthy ageing as well as <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/faculty/staff/10213/prof-lijing-ke">Prof. Lijing Ke</a> as your proposed supervisor.</p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants for the School of Food Science and Nutrition should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. A Master's degree (with Distinction) is preferred but is not a requirement. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study for the School of Food Science and Nutrition is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p style="margin-bottom:11px">We are offering 1 full-time PhD scholarship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition covering UK tuition fees and maintenance grant (currently £19,237 in 2024/25) for 3.5 years, subject to satisfactory progress. <strong>Please note that international applicants are welcome to apply but would need to cover the difference in international tuition fees. You can read more about research degree fees <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-fees/doc/research-degrees-fees">here</a>.</strong></p> <p>The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two years and a half, subject to satisfactory academic progress.</p>

<p>For further information please contact the PGR Admissions Team by emailing ENV-PGR@leeds.ac.uk directly. </p>