TAU 301

FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS OF

NANOTECHNOLOGY (1+1)
Applications of nanotechnology in
food preservation
Applications of nanotechnology

Neutra-ceuticals

Nanotechnology Packaging
Food safety in food industry

Filtration
 Nano-nutraceuticals and
nano-functional foods
• It is defined as the food components that
provide demonstrated physiological benefits or
reduce the risk of chronic disease, above and
beyond their basic nutritional functions.

• A functional food is similar to a conventional

food. While a nutraceutical is isolated from a
food and sold in dosage form; in both cases the
active components occur naturally in the food.
 Nano capsules
• Nanocapsules containing tuna fish oil (a
source of omega 3 fatty acids) in “Tip-Top"
Up bread.
 Nanocochleates
• Nanocochleates delivery system protects the food
substances from degradation.
• Ex.Polyphenols and Resveratrol are the
substances present in most food and wine, they
get degraded and oxidized when exposed to air.
• Nanocochleates solve early oxidation by
individually capturing and wrapping them in a
phospholipids wrap and maintaining the internal
nutrients secure from water and oxygen.
• Bio Delivery Sciences International have
developed nanocochleates which are 50nm coiled
nanoparticles and can be used to deliver nutrients
such as vitamins,lycopene and omega 3 fatty acids
more efficiently to the cell, without affecting the
colour or taste of food.

• The delivery vechicle is made of

soyphosphatidylserine which is 100% safe.
 Nanoclusters

• Nanoclusters TM is a nanosize powder that

combines with nutritional supplements.

• When consumed, it reduces the surface tension

of foods and supplements to increase wetness
and absorption of nutrients.
 Food packaging
Consumers demand….
• Food to be fresh for long time,
• Packaging materials should be ease for
handling,
• Safe and healthy to human & environment.
Major problem…
Determining and developing an effective packing
material
 Food Packaging contd..
• Using nanoparticle technology, Bayer developed an
air tight plastic particle ,it is referred as a new hybrid
system.

• It is enriched with number of silicate particles.

• Due to the nature of the nanoparticles in Bayers new

plastic material, it solves the problem occurred in
food packaging due to oxygen which spoils fat in
meat and which turns them pale.
 Food Packaging contd..
• Incorporation of nanoparticles of clay into ethylene –
vinyl alcohol copolymer and into a poly(lactic
acid)bipolymer increase the barrier properties to
oxygen.

• Polymer-silicate nanocomposities have improved gas

barrier properties, mechanical strength and thermal
stability.

• Nanoclay-nylon coatings and silicon oxide barriers for

glass bottles are used to impede gas diffusion.
 Food Packaging contd..
• Researchers demonstrated that nanoparticles
with antimicrobial properties such as
titanium dioxide,Zincoxide and magnesium
oxide as well as a combination of them, once
functionalized can be efficient in killing
micro-organisms which ensures safe food
packaging.
Polymer Nanocomposites
• This technology was developed to improve
barrier performance pertaining to gases such as
oxygen and carbon dioxide.

• It also enhances the barrier performance to

UV-rays, as well as adding
strength,stiffness,dimensional stability and
heat resistance.
• Polymer nanocomposities consist of resins(either
thermoset or thermoplastics) that have fillers
added with a least one dimension measured in
nanometers.

• These fillers fall into three categories:

 Nanotube
Nanoscale oxides and metals
 Nanoclays
 Carbon Nanotubes
• They are cylinders with nanoscale diameters that
can be used in food packaging to improve its
mechanical properties.

• It has been recently discovered that they might

exhibit powerful antimicrobial effects.

• E coli died immediately as and when it came in

direct contact with aggregates of carbon nanotubes.
 Nanoclay
• Small amounts of well-dispersed
natural clay can lead to
environmentally friendly and
inexpensive plastic composites
with improved specialised
properties.
 Properties
• Make plastics less permeable to liquids and gases.

• More flame retardant and tougher.

• Protects the beverages from the effects of oxygen.

• It does not affect the transparency of plastics.

 Filtration
• Nanofiltration water treatment is a liquid separation
membrane technology.

• It can perform separation applications such as

demineralization,colour, removal and desalination.

• Offer cost-effective alternative to commercial reverse

osmosis units.

• Referred to as membrane softening or membrane water

softeners,nanofiltration is an alternative to salt based water
softening.
 Nanofiltration membrane
• It allows the diffusion of certain ionic solutes (such as
sodium and chloride), monovalent ions, as well as
water.

• Large ionic species-divalent & multivalent ions and

more complex molecules are retained.

• Lower operating pressure with nanofiltration

compared with reverse osmosis.
Nanofiltration membrane
 Applications for
•
Nanofiltration
Desalination of food, dairy and beverage products or
byproducts.

• Partial desalination of whey.

• Desalination of dyes and optical brighteners.

• Color reduction or manipulation of food products.

• Concentration of food, dairy and beverage products or

byproducts.

• Fermentation byproduct concentration.

 Food Safety
• We come into contact with millions of bacteria in our
daily life. It is found in air we breathe and food we
eat.
• Organic dyes are the most commonly used boilable to
stain bacteria for detection but their fluorescence
degrades with time.
• Nano crystals have led to new area of research in
fluorescent labeling by quantum dots(QD).
• Nano bioluminescence helps in easy detection of
contaminated food and beverage.
 Biosensor technology
• Improved biosensor technology may be used to
detect gases present in packaged foods as a
measure of integrity of the packaging material,
compounds released durind food spoilage and the
presence of toxins in foods.

• The gas sensor of electronic nose (e-nose)are

composed of nanoparticles(e.g.Zinc oxide
nanowires) whose resistance changes when a
certain gas is made to pass over it.
• The finger print pattern derived from sensor is
used to determine the type, quality and
quantity of the odor.

• The advantage of using nanoparticles is that

they have improved surface area for better gas
adsorption.
 Cleaning and
Disinfection
• Silver itself is known to have antibacterial
effects and nanoparticles of silver inhibits
growth of E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

• Surfaces in some refrigerators and food

storage containers contain nanoparticles of
silver which reportedly prevent growth of
pathogen and spoilage of bacteria.
• Silver nanoparticles can be coated on
polyurethane(PU)foams by overnight exposure
of the foams to nanoparticle solutions.

• Repeated washing and air –drying yields

uniformly coated PU foam, which can be used
as a water filter.
 Conclusion
• The use of Nanotechnology in food processing make
product cheaper, more efficient, safer.

• Source of increasing the speed of adaption of this new

technology is linked to cost efficiency and population
growth.

• Nanotechnology has the potential for revolutionizing

the ways in which materials and products are created
and the range and nature of functionalities that can be
accessed.
Presented by…
D.Aarthy
S.Anandhi Lavanya
S.Annapoorani
M.Anusha
 Reference …
• Book :
Application of Nanotechnology in Agriculture

• Web
www.foodproductiondaily.com