Overview
Background
I am a food scientist and chemical engineer specialising in advanced encapsulation technologies and particle engineering for the delivery of bioactive compounds. My research focuses on developing scalable solutions to improve the stability, bioavailability, and controlled release of micronutrients in food, feed, and agricultural systems.
My work sits at the interface of food science, materials engineering, and nanotechnology, with particular expertise in alginate-based materials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)-stabilised emulsions, and spray-drying technologies.
My research aims to bridge fundamental science with industrial application, with a strong focus on scalability, cost-effectiveness, and real-world impact. I am particularly interested in collaborating with academic and industry partners to develop next-generation delivery systems that enhance nutrition, product performance, and global food security.
Availability
- Dr Yilun Weng is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Fuels and Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University
- Masters (Coursework) of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Pickering Emulsions and Colloid Engineering
My research explores cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)-stabilised Pickering emulsions for encapsulation and delivery of hydrophobic bioactives. I study structure–function relationships in colloidal systems to improve emulsion stability, prevent leakage, and enhance performance under processing and gastrointestinal conditions.
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Metal–Organic Frameworks for Food Applications
I investigate the use of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as emerging delivery systems for food and feed applications. My work focuses on designing food-compatible MOFs to enhance stability, control release behaviour, and enable advanced encapsulation of sensitive micronutrients under gastrointestinal and processing conditions.
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Spray Drying and Functional Powder Design
I develop spray-drying-based processes for producing stable, functional powders with improved encapsulation efficiency and retention of bioactive compounds. My work focuses on scalable formulation design, process optimisation, and translating laboratory systems into industry-compatible production technologies.
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Encapsulation and Delivery of Bioactive Compounds
My research focuses on encapsulation technologies for improving the stability, bioavailability, and controlled release of bioactive compounds such as vitamins, carotenoids, and essential oils. I develop scalable delivery systems using spray drying and emulsion-based approaches to address degradation and performance limitations in food and agricultural applications.
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Functional Coatings for Fruit Preservation
I investigate spray coating and dip coating technologies using functional edible coatings to improve postharvest stability of fresh fruits. My work focuses on developing barrier and active coatings to reduce moisture loss, oxidation, and microbial spoilage, extending shelf life while maintaining quality and nutritional value.
Research impacts
My research delivers practical solutions to improve the stability, delivery, and effectiveness of bioactive compounds in food, feed, and agricultural systems. By developing scalable encapsulation technologies, my work addresses key industry challenges including nutrient degradation, low bioavailability, and material losses during processing.
This research has direct benefits for industry and society by:
- Improving the retention and controlled release of essential nutrients (e.g. vitamins and carotenoids)
- Reducing processing losses and increasing manufacturing efficiency
- Enabling more stable and functional food and feed products
- Supporting more reliable and cost-effective fortification strategies
The impact of this work is demonstrated through:
- Contribution to research projects with a combined funding value exceeding AUD 1.2 million
- Development of scalable processes such as spray-drying-based delivery systems
- Generation of industry-relevant knowledge to support translation from laboratory to commercial production
By bridging fundamental science with real-world application, my research supports the development of next-generation nutrient delivery systems that enhance food quality, improve health outcomes, and contribute to more sustainable and efficient production systems.
Works
Search Professor Yilun Weng’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Encapsulation of enzymes in food industry using spray drying: recent advances and process scale-ups
Weng, Yilun, Li, Yang, Chen, Xiaojing, Song, Hao and Zhao, Chun-Xia (2024). Encapsulation of enzymes in food industry using spray drying: recent advances and process scale-ups. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 64 (22), 7941-7958. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2193982
2023
Journal Article
Exploring biosurfactants as a sustainable alternative to chemical surfactants
Li, Yang, Yang, Guangze, Weng, Yilun, Xu, Letao, Hou, Fei, Devkota, Shankar and Zhao, Chun-Xia (2023). Exploring biosurfactants as a sustainable alternative to chemical surfactants. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 677 (Part A) 132291, 132291. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2023.132291
2023
Journal Article
Improving phytase production in Pichia pastoris fermentations through de‐repression and methanol induction optimization
Luna‐Flores, Carlos H., Weng, Yilun, Wang, Alexander, Chen, Xiaojing, Peng, Bingyin, Zhao, Chun‐Xia, Navone, Laura, von Hellens, Juhani and Speight, Robert E. (2023). Improving phytase production in Pichia pastoris fermentations through de‐repression and methanol induction optimization. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 120 (11), 3276-3287. doi: 10.1002/bit.28510
2023
Journal Article
Catalytic hydropyrolysis of biomass using natural zeolite-based catalysts
Yan, Penghui, Nur Azreena, Idris, Peng, Hong, Rabiee, Hesamoddin, Ahmed, Mohamed, Weng, Yilun, Zhu, Zhonghua, Kennedy, Eric M. and Stockenhuber, Michael (2023). Catalytic hydropyrolysis of biomass using natural zeolite-based catalysts. Chemical Engineering Journal, 476 146630, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.146630
2023
Conference Publication
Porous alginate-based material for enzyme encapsulation
Weng, Yilun (2023). Porous alginate-based material for enzyme encapsulation. 3rd International Symposium on Hollow Materials, Shanghai, China, 26-29 October 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Enhancing the efficiency of food industry with thermal stable enzymes
Weng, Yilun (2023). Enhancing the efficiency of food industry with thermal stable enzymes. Chemeca 2023, Auckland, New Zealand, 1-3 October 2023.
2023
Conference Publication
Revolutionizing agriculture: scalable manufacturing of thermal stable enzymes
Weng, Yilun (2023). Revolutionizing agriculture: scalable manufacturing of thermal stable enzymes. International Conference on Materials Innovation 2023, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 21-25 August 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Alginate-based materials for enzyme encapsulation
Weng, Yilun, Yang, Guangze, Li, Yang, Xu, Letao, Chen, Xiaojing, Song, Hao and Zhao, Chun-Xia (2023). Alginate-based materials for enzyme encapsulation. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 318 102957, 102957. doi: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.102957
2023
Journal Article
Development of a concentration‐controlled sequential nanoprecipitation for making lipid nanoparticles with high drug loading
Xu, Letao, Wang, Xing, Yang, Guangze, Zhao, Zihan, Weng, Yilun, Li, Yang, Liu, Yun and Zhao, Chun‐Xia (2023). Development of a concentration‐controlled sequential nanoprecipitation for making lipid nanoparticles with high drug loading. Aggregate, 4 (6) e369, 1-14. doi: 10.1002/agt2.369
2023
Journal Article
Scalable manufacturing of enzyme loaded alginate particles with excellent thermal and storage stability for industrial applications
Weng, Yilun, Wan, Andria, Li, Yang, Liu, Yun, Chen, Xiaojing, Song, Hao and Zhao, Chun-Xia (2023). Scalable manufacturing of enzyme loaded alginate particles with excellent thermal and storage stability for industrial applications. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 667 131412, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2023.131412
2023
Journal Article
Improved enzyme thermal stability, loading and bioavailability using alginate encapsulation
Weng, Yilun, Ranaweera, Supun, Zou, Da, Cameron, Anna, Chen, Xiaojing, Song, Hao and Zhao, Chun-Xia (2023). Improved enzyme thermal stability, loading and bioavailability using alginate encapsulation. Food Hydrocolloids, 137 108385, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.foodhyd.2022.108385
2022
Conference Publication
Alginate-based materials for enzyme stabilization
Weng, Yilun (2022). Alginate-based materials for enzyme stabilization. The 5th International Union of Materials Research Societies International Conference of Young Researchers on Advanced Materials, Fukuoka, Japan, 2-6 August 2022.
2022
Journal Article
Alginate particles for enzyme immobilization using spray drying
Weng, Yilun, Ranaweera, Supun, Zou, Da, Cameron, Anna, Chen, Xiaojing, Song, Hao and Zhao, Chun-Xia (2022). Alginate particles for enzyme immobilization using spray drying. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 70 (23), 7139-7147. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c02298
2022
Conference Publication
Alginate particles for enzyme immobilization using spray drying
Weng, Yilun and Zhao, Chunxia (2022). Alginate particles for enzyme immobilization using spray drying. The 33rd Australian Colloid and Surface Science Student Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 1-3 February 2022.
2019
Other Outputs
Development of Gelatin-Nanoparticle Hybrid Hydrogels for Engineered Immune Organoid
Weng, Yilun (2019). Development of Gelatin-Nanoparticle Hybrid Hydrogels for Engineered Immune Organoid. Master's Thesis, School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/6096da5
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Yilun Weng is:
- Available for supervision
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Media
Enquiries
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