天然虾青素具有强大的抗氧化和穿透血脑屏障的特性，对改善人体健康具有重要意义。而低加工贮藏稳定性和低生物利用度是其在食品中多元化应用的关键限制因素。传统解决策略以分子外的稳态化技术为主，但缺乏对分子结构-性质关系的系统探讨。本项目拟以自然界中的主要存在形态—酯化态虾青素分子为目标物，通过研究其在体外自氧化、模拟消化—Caco-2细胞跨膜转运和模型小鼠体内吸收代谢的过程，并结合基于胰脂肪酶分子对接模拟手段，阐明分子结构对虾青素酯稳定性和生物利用度的影响机制以及虾青素跨膜转运的分子机理；同时结合食品基质效应，进一步揭示食品体系组成特性对虾青素酯稳定性和生物利用度的影响机制。本项目研究可突破人们对虾青素功能因子分子形态选择的局限性，为高生物利用度虾青素稳态化赋型食品的设计和开发提供新的科学依据，对于虾青素资源的高值化转化和利用，及其营养膳食新策略的探寻具有重要意义。

Natural astaxanthin is a powerful antioxidant and it can penetrate the blood- brain barrier, which contributes significantly to its role in improving human health. However, the diversiform applications of astaxanthin in food industry are restricted by two key factors: the low storage stability and the low bioavailability. The traditional strategies to solve these problems are mainly based on the stabilization technology, which in turn leads to an insufficient study of the relationships between structures and functions of these molecules. . Astaxanthin esters are the main molecular forms of astaxanthins in nature. The auto-oxidation in vitro, transmembrane transport in a digestion simulative model – Caco-2 cells are intended to be researched. Moreover, we are supposed to make insight into the absorption and metabolism of astaxanthin esters in ICR mouse model as well as simulating the molecular docking to pancreatic lipase. The project is aimed at elaborating the effects of molecular structures on the stability and bioavailability, together with demonstrating the molecular mechanisms of the transmembrane transport of astaxanthin isomers. Meanwhile, the influencing mechanisms of food constituent properties on stability and bioavailability will to be revealed in combination probing the food matrix effects. . This project is expected to break the limitation in choosing molecular forms of astaxanthins as functional factors and to provide a scientific evidence for designation and development of highly bioavailable and steady-state excipient foods. In short, this research will certainly make sense in the area that astaxanthin esters are processed and utilized in a high-value way. Besides, the research is meaningful to explore a scientific dietary intake strategy for astaxanthin esters.