PhD Student: Giorgio Innocenzo Ascrizzi (ORCID n. 0009-0005-4334-1838)
Supervisor: Prof. Laura Piazza (ESP)
Co-tutor: Prof. Stefano Farris (DeFENS)
Dean: Prof. Diego Mora
Research area: Food Science and Nutrition
Research topic
Design of soft-solid products for sustainable special diets: rheological, tribological and nutritional evaluations
Project Synopsis
Swallowing difficulties can lead to reduced food intake and an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia and choking. This PhD project aims to design novel soft-solid foods based on upcycled agri-food waste, in order to develop functional products suitable for people with swallowing difficulties.
The research will be carried out within the framework of applied materials science to thoroughly investigate the rheological and tribological aspects of oral processing, specifically swallowing, to provide a basis for improving already available commercial products. Rheological and tribological tests will be performed to assess how mesostructure can deeply affect swallowing. Phenomenological and mathematical models of relevant aspects of swallowing will be developed in partnership with modeling engineers.
The project will involve collaboration with neuropsychologists with expertise in swallowing disorders. Findings will be shared within the “PNRR-PE10-SPOKE 4-DYSPHAGIA” activities, focused on designing nutrient-rich products that fulfill the specific texture and swallowing requirements of dysphagia patients.
Project keywords
food rheology, food tribology, soft-solid foods, agri-food waste, upcycle
Contacts
Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) – Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan
Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS) – Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milan
Collaborations
Department of Biomedical Engineering – Politecnico di Milano
Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Physic and Physical Chemistry of Food – Wageningen University and Research
Sponsor
Fellowship sponsor: Università degli Studi di Milano
Project sponsor: Project funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) – Established by Ministerial Decree 118/2023 of Italian Ministry of University and Research and funded by the European Union (NextGenerationEU)
Publications
Ascrizzi, G.I., Grosso, F., Fortina, R., Meneguz, M. Valorization of waste by-products from olive pomace industry by using black soldier fly larvae as bioconverter. Conference abstract at Insects to Feed the World 2022. DOI: 10.3920/jiff2022.s1
Locatelli, C., Bagardi, M., Manfredi, M., Scaraffia, L., Ascrizzi G.I., Brambilla, P.G., Zani, D.D. Interobserver variability of radiographic methods for the evaluation of left atrial size in dogs. Conference abstract at ECVIM Congress 2020
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