Interactions between Food Additive Silica Nanoparticles and Food Matrices

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been widely utilized in the food industry as additives with their beneficial characteristics, such as improving sensory property and processing suitability, enhancing functional and nutritional values, and extending shelf-life of foods. Silica is used as an anti-caking agent to improve flow property of powered ingredients and as a carrier for flavors or active compounds in food. Along with the rapid development of nanotechnology, the sizes of silica fall into nanoscale, thereby raising concerns about the potential toxicity of nano-sized silica materials. There have been a number of studies carried out to investigate possible adverse effects of NPs on the gastrointestinal tract. The interactions between NPs and surrounding food matrices should be also taken into account since the interactions can affect their bioavailability, efficacy, and toxicity. In the present study, we investigated the interactions between food additive silica NPs and food matrices, such as saccharides, proteins, lipids, and minerals. Quantitative analysis was performed to determine food component-NP corona using HPLC, fluorescence quenching, GC-MS, and ICP-AES. The results demonstrate that zeta potential and hydrodynamic radius of silica NPs changed in the presence of all food matrices, but their solubility was not affected. However, quantitative analysis on the interactions revealed that a small portion of food matrices interacted with silica NPs and the interactions were highly dependent on the type of food component. Moreover, minor nutrients could also affect the interactions, as evidenced by higher NP interaction with honey rather than with a simple sugar mixture containing an equivalent amount of fructose, glucose, sucrose, and maltose. These findings provide fundamental information to extend our understanding about the interactions between silica NPs and food components and to predict the interaction effect on the safety aspects of food-grade NPs.

Nanoparticles in Daily Life: Applications, Toxicity and Regulations

“…40 Recently, researchers have reported that interactions between food additive SiO 2 NPs and food matrices were highly dependent on the type of food component. 41 Moreover, the experimenters have suggested that toxicity of SiO 2 NPs depends on size, dose, and cell type. 42 Researchers have also demonstrated that the shape affected biodistribution, excretion, and toxicity of mesoporous SiO 2 NPs after oral and intravenous administration.…”

The rise of the nanomaterial metabolite corona, and emergence of the complete corona

“…Although very much an overlooked exposure route, dietary sources of NMs make up approximately 16% of human Environmental Science: Nano Critical review exposures to NMs, compared to 58% and 25% for topical and inhalation exposure, respectively. 68,81 The high dietary exposure is typically through silica NMs which are used as a food additive (E551) and act as an anticaking agent. 81 Furthermore, nano silver is being used as an antimicrobial and in some cases as a (supposed) supplement in health foods, nano selenium is used as an additive in green tea products, nano iron is used to treat contaminated water or as a supplement, and a variety of metal oxides are used as colorants or may elute from packaging materials.…”

“…68,81 The high dietary exposure is typically through silica NMs which are used as a food additive (E551) and act as an anticaking agent. 81 Furthermore, nano silver is being used as an antimicrobial and in some cases as a (supposed) supplement in health foods, nano selenium is used as an additive in green tea products, nano iron is used to treat contaminated water or as a supplement, and a variety of metal oxides are used as colorants or may elute from packaging materials. 82 Due to the diverse compositions of diets around the world each meal or item of food represents a complex mixture of a vast array of biomolecules such as proteins and metabolites from a range of plant and animal species, making the dietary-corona potentially the most complex and diverse corona relevant for human exposure.…”

Food Nanotechnologies: Purchasing a Double Edge Sword

“…Nano fillers made up of silicate e.g. nylon clay hydrid and mess network of silicate are quite promising for safer manufacture of nano made packing material in food industry, however these NPs can mildly interact with food and toxicity studies are required to implement their use 24 . These packaging materials ensure quality of the food item by control oxidation, release active components and maintain the texture of food.…”