Innovative Nutrient Stabilization Solutions for Global Health Challenges

Linzixuan (Rhoda) Zhang, a doctoral candidate at MIT, has won the 2024 Collegiate Inventors Competition for her groundbreaking work on stabilizing nutrients in food to improve global health.

Recognizing Exceptional Innovation

The annual Collegiate Inventors Competition, hosted by the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the USPTO, celebrates the ingenuity of student inventors across the United States. Finalists present their creations before a panel of esteemed judges including Hall of Fame inductees and USPTO officials.

Zhang has previously received multiple awards including three Koch Institute Image Awards and a fellowship at MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab. Her advisors include Ana Jaklenec and Robert Langer, both leaders in their fields.

Tackling Global Micronutrient Deficiencies

Nearly two billion people worldwide suffer from micronutrient deficiencies such as iron deficiency, which severely impacts vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women by weakening immune systems and causing developmental issues.

The World Health Organization endorses food fortification as a cost-effective intervention, but many current solutions fail due to nutrient degradation during processing or cooking and environmental concerns associated with synthetic additives.

To address these challenges, Zhang and postdoctoral associate Xin Yang developed nutritional metal-organic frameworks (NuMOFs) and created MOFe Coffee — the world’s first iron-fortified coffee — which protects nutrients and enhances absorption.

“Rhoda is an exceptionally dedicated and creative student. Her well-deserved award highlights the potential impact of her research on nutrient stabilization, which could significantly benefit society.”

Innovating Sustainable Nutrient Fortification

Inspired by the global success of iodized salt, Zhang and Yang’s technology overcomes difficulties posed by the high reactivity of micronutrients and instability of iron(II) salts through advanced material science and chemistry.

NuMOFs safeguard iron within foods for prolonged periods and improve bioavailability, making everyday consumption routines an effective vehicle to increase iron intake, especially benefiting women who are disproportionately affected by deficiency.

• Protects essential nutrients during food processing and cooking
• Enhances absorption in the human body
• Promotes accessibility and sustainability in nutrient fortification

Accelerating Commercial Impact

Zhang and Yang continue to refine MOFe Coffee to maximize nutrient stability and consumer enjoyment while expediting patent applications through the Collegiate Inventors Competition to attract investors and partners.

Their mission is clear: to swiftly bring effective nutritional solutions to market that address micronutrient deficiencies globally, improving health equity for populations in greatest need.

“Our goal is to make a tangible difference in combating micronutrient deficiencies worldwide,” emphasizes Zhang.