Research infrastructure
With state-of-the-art facilities and expertise, we offer a range of analytical services for those studying or utilizing complex carbohydrates or plant proteins in food and non-food applications. We also undertake research projects to address specific analytical challenges.
Examples of techniques employed by InnograinLab group are highlighted in the publications below:
- Molecular changes and interactions of wheat flour biopolymers during bread-making: Implications to upcycle bread waste into bioplastics.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.122414 - Starch esterification using deep eutectic solvents as chaotropic agents and reaction promoters.
https://doi.org/10.1039/D3GC02833J
- Understanding the influence of the arabinoxylan-rich psyllium (Plantago ovata) husk on dough elasticity and bread staling: Interplay between biopolymer and water dynamics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110099
- Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) protein concentrates from wet and dry industrial fractionation: Molecular properties, nutritional composition, and anisotropic structuring. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.107755
- The role of amylose content on the structure and rheological properties of pea protein-starch systems during pressurized hydrothermal processing.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2024.110830
- Comparative assessment of polyphenol bioaccessibility in cold-pressed apple fractions using static and semi-dynamic digestion models. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2025.115743.
- Partitioning and in vitro bioaccessibility of apple polyphenols during mechanical and physiological extraction: A hierarchical clustering analysis with LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.138320
- Slowly digestible starch in fully gelatinized material is structurally driven by molecular size and A and B1 chain lengths.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.06.021 - The molecular structure of starch from different Musa genotypes: Higher branching density of amylose chains seems to promote enzyme-resistant structures. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.106351
The research team laboratory (InnograinLab) features the Laboratorio de Técnicas Instrumentales (LTI) and a plethora of specific research equipment and analytical procedures.
Headquarters laboratories
UVainnova Building,
Miguel Delibes Campus, UVa
This unit counts with a MALDI-TOF (Bruker Autoflex with Biotyper), a SCIEX QTOF X500R Mass Spectrometer coupled with the 2D-UHPLC EXION LC series from SCIEX, a Bruker Maxis Impact (TOF-MS) coupled to a Waters Acquity (UPLC-MS-TOF) or a Bruker 450-GC (GC-MS-TOF), a SCIEX TRIPLE QUAD 6500+ Mass Spectrometer coupled with the 2D-UHPLC EXION LC series from SCIEX, and an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) with Octopolar Reaction System 7800 from Agilent
This unit counts with 400/500 MHz NMR devices from Agilent and Bruker with the possibility to couple a cold probe and a solids state probe. The unit also counts with a 3,0 T TX Phillips Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, and a Fourier transformed infrared Spectrometer (ATR-FTIR Nicolet iS50, ThermoFisher) and a MultiSkan Skyhigh UV-Vis plate reader spectrophotometer from ThermoFischer.
This unit counts with multiple gas and liquid chromatographs, including a Dionex HPAEC-PAD (ThermoFischer), a 850 Metrohm with conductimetry and PAD detectors, a SEC-FFF-UV-MALS-RI-IV from Wyatt with Eclipse (NEON), DAWN (NEON), ViscoStar (NEON) and Optilab (NEON) and Agilent 1260 detectors and separation units, and several analytical and preparative HPLCs and GCs, including a NGC Quest 10 Plus system for protein purification.
Leica TC-SP8 Lightning Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), a QUANTA 200 FEG Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), a JEM 1011HR Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), a JEM-FS2200 HRP TEM, a CYPHER-ES Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), an MFP-3D-BIO NIKON Ti2 AFM, an AFM-MicroRaman (RAMAN HORIBA LabRAM Soleil) and a Leica optical microscope with hot stage.
Malvern Zetasizer Advance Pro Red Label. (Dynamic Light Scattering) and Laser Diffraction Mastersizer Analyser.
Elemental analyzer (LECO), ICP-OES (ICP-OES Radial Simultáneo Agilent 725-ES), ICP-MS (Agilent) and moisture analyzers
Freeze-driers, Thermomixers, Thermoblock reaction vessels, Muffle (Buhler), nitrogen evaporators (N-EVAP, Organomation), ultrasonic water bath, filtration systems, incubation chambers, rotavapors, Panda homogenizer, moisture analyzers, Ultraturrax, centrifuges and ultracentrifuges, shaking and thermostatic water baths, pH meters, stirring plates.
Headquarters laboratories
School of Agricultural Engineering ,
Yutera Campus, UVa
Thermal analysis (DSC Q20 from TA Instruments), Rheometer DHR20 from TA instruments, Rapid Visco Analizer (4800) with the option to work under high pressure and Temperature (140oC), Farinograph and Microviscoamylograph from Brabender-Anton Paar, X-Ray Diffraction Analizer (Bruker S8 Tiger), Texture analyzer (TA-XT2, Stable Microsystems), Volscan Volume Analyzer, spectrocolorimeter (Minolta CN-508i) and a Bruker Mini Spec Time Low Field NMR
Kitchen for food preparation and booths for the sensory evaluation of foods.
Freeze-driers, Thermomixers, Thermoblock reaction vessels, Muffle (Buhler), nitrogen evaporators (N-EVAP, Organomation), ultrasonic water bath, filtration systems, incubation chambers, rotavapors, Panda homogenizer, moisture analyzers, Ultraturrax, centrifuges and ultracentrifuges, shaking and thermostatic water baths, pH meters, stirring plates.
Several hammer, pin and roller mills are available, as well as baking facilities with several kneaders and misers, proofers and mixers and storage chambers at different temperatures.