The rapid development of nanotechnology has been facilitating the transformations of traditional food and agriculture sectors, particularly the invention of smart and active packaging, nanosensors, nanopesticides and nanofertilizers. Numerous novel nanomaterials have been developed for improving food quality and safety, crop growth, and monitoring environmental conditions. In this review the most recent trends in nanotechnology are discussed and the most challenging tasks and promising opportunities in the food and agriculture sectors from selected recent studies are addressed. The toxicological fundamentals and risk assessment of nanomaterials in these new food and agriculture products are also discussed. We highlighted the potential application of biosynthesized and bio-inspired nanomaterial for sustainable development. However, fundamental questions with regard to high performance, low toxic nanomaterials need to be addressed to fuel active development and application of nanotechnology. Regulation and legislation are also paramount to regulating the manufacturing, processing, application, as well as disposal of nanomaterials. Efforts are still needed to strengthen public awareness and acceptance of the novel nano-enabled food and agriculture products. We conclude that nanotechnology offers a plethora of opportunities, by providing a novel and sustainable alternative in the food and agriculture sectors.

Rapid development of nanotechnology is expected to transform many areas of food science and food industry with increasing investment and market share. In this article, current applications of nanotechnology in food systems are briefly reviewed. Functionality and applicability of food-related nanotechnology are highlighted in order to provide a comprehensive view on the development and safety assessment of nanotechnology in the food industry. While food nanotechnology offers great potential benefits, there are emerging concerns arising from its novel physicochemical properties. Therefore, the safety concerns and regulatory policies on its manufacturing, processing, packaging, and consumption are briefly addressed. At the end of this article, the perspectives of nanotechnology in active and intelligent packaging applications are highlighted.

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Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is one of the most widely used photocatalysts for the degradation of organic contaminants in water and air. Visible light (VL) activated sulfur-doped TiO2 (S-TiO2) and nitrogen-fluorine-codoped TiO2 (N-F-TiO2) were synthesized by sol-gel methods and characterized. Their photoinactivation performance was tested against Escherichia coli under solar simulated light (SSL) and VL irradiation with comparison to commercially available TiO2. Undoped Degussa-Evonik P-25 (P-25) and Sigma-TiO2 showed the highest photocatalytic activity toward E. coli inactivation under SSL irradiation, while S-TiO2 showed a moderate toxicity. After VL irradiation, Sigma-TiO2 showed higher photoinactivation, whereas S-TiO2 and P-25 showed moderate toxicity. Oxidative stress to E. coli occurred via formation of hydroxyl radicals leading to lipid peroxidation as the primary mechanism of bacterial inactivation. Various other biological models, including human keratinocytes (HaCaT), zebrafish liver cells (ZFL), and zebrafish embryos were also used to study the toxicity of TiO2 NPs. In conclusion, N-F-TiO2 did not show any toxicity based on the assay results from all the biological models used in this study, whereas S-TiO2 was toxic to zebrafish embryos under all the test conditions. These findings also demonstrate that the tested TiO2 nanoparticles do not show any adverse effects in HaCaT and ZFL cells.

Along with the expanding use of engineered metal oxide nanomaterials (MONMs), there is a growing concern over their unintentional adverse toxicological effects on human health and the environment upon release and exposure. It is inevitable that biota will be exposed to nanomaterials, through intentional administration or inadvertent contact under such circumstances. Therefore, a thorough investigation of the potential nanotoxicity of MONMs at the nano-bio-eco interface is urgently needed. In general, nanomaterials interact with their surrounding environments, biotic and abiotic, immediately upon introduction into the environment. The behavior and fate of MONMs are influenced by the dynamics of the environment. Thus, understanding the interactions at the nano-bio-eco interface is necessary for selecting and designing MONMs with minimum adverse impacts. Despite the limitations of currently available techniques, careful characterization of nanomaterials and the choosing of methodologies that promote further risk assessment promise more reliable and accurate data output. Conventional toxicological analysis techniques lack the power to handle the large datasets generated from in vitro/in vivo observations. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent experimental and theoretical studies on the toxicity of MONMs mediated by two-way or three-way interactions. In the Perspectives, we also call for more open collaborations between industry, academia, and research labs to facilitate nanotoxicological studies focused specifically on interactions at the nano-bio-eco interface, leading to safe and effective nanotechnology for commercial, environmental, and medicinal use. Environ. Sci.: Nano This journal isThe behavior and fate of metal oxide nanomaterials (MONMs) are influenced by the dynamic interactions among the different compartments in natural environments. Thus, understanding the interactions at the nano-bio-eco interface is necessary for selecting and designing MONMs with minimum adverse impacts. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent experimental and theoretical studies on the toxicity of MONMs mediated by two-way or three-way interactions. In the Perspectives, we also call for more open collaborations between industry, academia, and research labs to facilitate nanotoxicological studies focused specifically on interactions at the nano-bio-eco interface, leading to safe and effective nanotechnology for commercial, environmental, and medicinal use.

In this report, we critically reviewed selected intrinsic physicochemical properties of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and their role in the interaction of the ENMs with the immediate surroundings in representative aquatic environments. The behavior of ENMs with respect to dynamic microenvironments at the nano-bio-eco interface level, and the resulting impact on their toxicity, fate, and exposure potential are elaborated. Based on this literature review, we conclude that a holistic approach is urgently needed to fulfill our knowledge gap regarding the safety of discharged ENMs. This comparative approach affords the capability to recognize and understand the potential hazards of ENMs and their toxicity mechanisms, and ultimately to establish a quantitative and reliable system to predict such outcomes.

The role of light on the acute toxicities of S-doped and Sigma TiO2 nanoparticles in zebrafish was studied. Metrics included mortality for both, and rheotaxis dysfunction and DNA damage for S-doped only. It was found that the acute toxicity of S-TiO2 nanoparticles was enhanced by simulated sunlight (SSL) irradiation (96-h LC50 of 116.56 ppm) and exceeded that of Sigma TiO2, which was essentially non-toxic. Behavioral disorder, in terms of rheotaxis, was significantly increased by treatment with S-TiO2 nanoparticles under SSL irradiation. In order to further understand its toxicity mechanism, we investigated hair cells in neuromasts of the posterior lateral line (PLL) using DASPEI staining. Significant hair cell damage was observed in the treated larvae. The Comet assay was employed to investigate the DNA damage, which might be responsible for the loss of hair cells. Production of the superoxide anion ([Formula: see text]), a major ROS generated by TiO2 nanoparticles, was assayed and used to postulate causative factors to account for these damages. Oxidative effects were most severe in the liver, heart, intestine, pancreatic duct, and pancreatic islet - results consistent with our earlier findings in the investigation of embryonic malformation. TEM micrographs, used to further investigate the fate of S-TiO2 nanoparticles at the cellular level, suggested receptor-mediated autophagy and vacuolization. Our findings validate the benefit of using the transparent zebrafish embryo as an in vivo model for evaluating photo-induced nanotoxicity. These results highlight the importance of conducting a systematic risk assessment in connection with the use of doped TiO2 nanoparticles in aquatic ecosystems.

In this paper we describe how utilization of low molecular weight alginate-derived oligosaccharide (ADO) and chito-oligosaccharide (COS) in conjunction with antibiotics, could more effectively inhibit the growth of wild-type and resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Inhibition is effected by modulating the bacteria's quorum sensing (QS) system, thus regulating biofilm formation and reducing resistance to antibiotic treatment. This can be demonstrated by using conventional MIC screening. COS showed synergistic effects with azithromycin, whereas ADO indicated additive effects against wild-type P. aeruginosa. Using electrospray-ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flightmass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), the chemical structure of ADO and of COS was characterized. The wild-type and resistant strains were identified by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. This report demonstrates the feasibility of attenuating the tolerance of P. aeruginosa to azithromycin by using specific marine oligosaccharides.