Application of Iron Nanoparticle-Based Materials in the Food Industry

Abstract

Due to their different properties compared to other materials, nanoparticles of iron and iron oxides are increasingly used in the food industry. Food technologists have especially paid attention to their ease of separation by magnetic fields and biocompatibility. Unfortunately, the consumption of increasing amounts of nanoparticles has raised concerns about their biotoxicity. Hence, knowledge about the applicability of iron nanoparticle-based materials in the food industry is needed not only among scientists, but also among all individuals who are involved in food production. The first part of this article describes typical methods of obtaining iron nanoparticles using chemical synthesis and so-called green chemistry. The second part of this article describes the use of iron nanoparticles and iron nanoparticle-based materials for active packaging, including the ability to eliminate oxygen and antimicrobial activity. Then, the possibilities of using the magnetic properties of iron nano-oxides for enzyme immobilization, food analysis, protein purification and mycotoxin and histamine removal from food are described. Other described applications of materials based on iron nanoparticles are the production of artificial enzymes, process control, food fortification and preserving food in a supercooled state. The third part of the article analyzes the biocompatibility of iron nanoparticles, their impact on the human body and the safety of their use.

Review—Potential of Tunneling Magnetoresistance Coupled to Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as a Novel Transducer for Biosensors-on-Chip

“…Food Packaging: IONPs can be utilized in food packaging materials to improve their mechanical and barrier properties, extending the shelf life of packaged products. 43 During the growth of the green synthesis method, many plant extracts have been proposed in the synthesis of IONPs for various applications. Table II lists the IONPs synthesized using the green synthesis route for various purposes.…”

“…Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are a type of MNPs that has gained significant attention due to their unique properties and potential applications. [42][43][44] These MNPs are composed of iron and oxygen atoms and can exist in different phases, such as magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) and maghemite (γ-Fe 2 O 3 ), 42 which exhibit magnetic behavior. They exhibit strong magnetic properties only when an external magnetic field is applied, and they lose some or all of their magnetization when the magnetic field is removed.…”

Green Synthesis of Iron Nanoparticles Using an Aqueous Extract of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne) Leaf Waste

“…From a practical point of view, the most important applications of nanoparticles include catalysis, photomagnetism, the magneto-optic effect, data storage, sensor manufacturing, inkjet printers, high-frequency and radio frequency devices, dietary supplements production, chemical analysis, as well as tissue imaging and drug carriers [ 1 , 2 ]. Nanoparticles of iron and iron oxides are non-toxic, thanks to which they can be used in the food industry [ 3 ]. In addition, iron nanoparticles are characterised by good dimensional stability and high thermal and electrical conductivity, attributes increasingly important for the development of medicine [ 4 ].…”

Sustainable and Green Synthesis of Iron Nanoparticles Supported on Natural Clays via Palm Waste Extract for Catalytic Oxidation of Crocein Orange G Mono Azoic Dye

“…Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) has been used recently in the Fenton heterogeneous system due to its large specific surface area and high reactivity. − NZVI is an environmentally friendly material with strong treatment efficiency, controllable particle size (1–100 nm), and abundant activate sites. , Iron nanoparticle technology represents perhaps one of first-generation nanoscale environmental technologies . NZVI production commonly uses very reactive and toxic reducing agents such as sodium borohydride and hydrazine hydrate, which cause undesired detrimental impacts on the environment and the plant and animal life it supports . To overcome this inconvenience, researchers continue efforts to develop facile, effective, and reliable green chemistry processes for the production of nanomaterials .…”

“… 35 NZVI production commonly uses very reactive and toxic reducing agents such as sodium borohydride and hydrazine hydrate, which cause undesired detrimental impacts on the environment and the plant and animal life it supports. 36 To overcome this inconvenience, researchers continue efforts to develop facile, effective, and reliable green chemistry processes for the production of nanomaterials. 37 Various organisms act as clean, eco-friendly, and sustainable precursors to produce stable and well-functionalized nanoparticles.…”