MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name

3D Orangies

One-line solution summary.

A functional food made mainly from orange peels and added with Bacopa monnieri extract to enhance the cognitive function of school-aged children.

What is your solution?

The solution is the development of 3D Orangies: a functional food which will help boost cognitive function of school-aged children due to the properties of Bacopa monnieri. It will be manufactured using 3D printing technology, which allows for attractive designs and customize the nutritional content according to the needs of each child.

Oranges are fruits that are normally consumed in juice form due to their low cost and high nutritional value. During the production of orange juice, about 50% (w/w) is discarded, generating waste composed mainly of peel, pulp, seeds, leaves, among others. Orange peel is rich in nutrients, such as vitamin C and dietary fiber, it also has a low caloric content. This is why orange peel can be used as a raw material for the production of value-added foods.

B. monnieri consists of alkaloids, saponins, sterols, d-mannitol, A-acid and betulinic acid. The main components responsible for the neuropharmacological effects are bacoside A and bacoside B, which are saponins. This herb has been used for centuries for improving memory and reducing anxiety.

What specific problem are you trying to solve?

The project seeks to contribute to improve cognitive function in school-aged children.

According to WHO data, 20% of children suffer from some mental disorder. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the mental and emotional well-being of children, they have shown irritability, anxiety, depression, stress and lack of concentration due to prolonged confinement.

There is a very limited market offering that focuses on reinforcing learning in children, and the aim is to increase the market offers with an innovative 3D printed product.

In these times of pandemic, strengthening children's cognitive function is even more necessary given the changes of virtual-presential learning.

During the lockdowns, at least 1 in 7 children has been affected by them, they often feel depressed and are angry, afraid and concerned for their future.

Who does your solution serve? In what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The product that is proposed would help strengthen the cognitive function of children, taking advantage of the pharmacological properties of Bacopa monnieri. At the same time, it takes advantage of the properties of Citrus sinensis peel, which, due to its high vitamin C content, might be helpful to prevent and treat infections and immune-related disorders.

What steps have you taken to understand the needs of the population you want to serve?

Research on the problem being addressed has been done. The mental health of children has not been taken seriously for a long time, and this pandemic has made clear its importance and the need to address it to ensure that children are in good health.

Today, the promotion of mental health is considered one of the world's health priorities by the World Health Organization. Mental health problems impose an enormous burden of disease on societies worldwide; they are responsible for 10% of the global disease burden and cause more disability-adjusted life years than any other health condition.

Which aspects of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Improving healthcare access and health outcomes; and reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities (Health)

Our solution's stage of development:

Concept: An idea being explored for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model based on that idea

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution—in other words, what have you accomplished to date?

It is in the concept stage, since the experimental methodology is being established along with equipment and materials.

Where our solution team is headquartered or located:

Jalisco, México

Team Lead:

Paulina García Reynoso