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
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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