Nanotechnology to the rescue: using nano-enabled approaches in microbiological food safety and quality

Abstract

Food safety and quality assurance is entering a new era. Interventions along the food supply chain must become more efficient in safeguarding public health and the environment and must address numerous challenges and new consumption trends. Current methods of microbial control to assure the safety of food and minimize microbial spoilage have each shown inefficiencies. Nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding area in the agri/feed/food sector. Nano-enabled approaches such as antimicrobial food-contact surfaces/packaging, nano-enabled sensors for rapid pathogen/contaminant detection and nano-delivered biocidal methods, currently on the market or at a developmental stage, show great potential for the food industry. Concerns on potential risks to human health and the environment posed by use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in food applications must, however, be adequately evaluated at the developmental stage to ensure consumer's acceptance.

Electrospun Nanomaterials Implementing Antibacterial Inorganic Nanophases

“…Among the different inorganic NAMs, nanomaterials composed of transition metals such as Ag, Cu, Zn, and their oxides are the most diffused, since they provide a wide-range biocidal activity, and on the other side, they are well tolerated by human beings at concentration levels that are effective already towards the growth of several microorganisms [48]. A comprehensive overview on real-life applications of NAMs is provided by References [44,[50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57]. Silver-based NAMs are definitively the most investigated.…”

Innovative processes and technologies for modified atmosphere packaging of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables

“…There is growing interest in the use of nanotechnology to enhance the functionality of packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables (Table 2). Nanoparticles can invest films with key antimicrobial, structural and barrier properties (Eleftheriadou et al 2017). Nanotechnology can also increase the strength and mechanical properties of films (Ramos et al, 2014), and reduce their O2 transmission rates (Fortunati et al, 2013).…”

Integrated Transcriptomics, Metabolomics, and Lipidomics Profiling in Rat Lung, Blood, and Serum for Assessment of Laser Printer-Emitted Nanoparticle Inhalation Exposure-Induced Disease Risks

“…The unique physicochemical properties of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are being exploited for use in a growing variety of commercial nano-enabled products (NEPs), including electronics, cosmetics, agriculture and food, structural materials, as well as a wide variety of products for medical applications [1][2][3][4]. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have investigated the possible adverse effects of inhalation exposure to pristine ENMs during synthesis and handling [5][6][7][8].…”

“…In US alone, 23 million printers are produced annually, and over 160,000 workers are employed in copier centers [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. The new generation of toners contain ENPs, such as metals and metal oxides, and that PEPs with mode sizes of 49-208 nm are released during printing at concentrations of up to 1.3 million particles/cm 3 [15]. There is growing evidence from both in vitro cellular and in vivo animal studies of significant bio-activity of PEPs, which points to potential adverse health effects from inhalation exposure [15,[28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36].…”