8 - Nanobiotechnology applications in food sector and future innovations

Abstract

Nanotechnology is an area of science and technology which includes biofabrication of nanoscale materials and/or engineering of functional system into molecular level. Research findings have shown competence of nanotechnology in various sectors including food, textiles, concrete, paper and pulp, agriculture, transport, energy, information technology, and medicine. Nanobiotechnology is relatively a new field of food sector where nanostructures are used for pathogen detection by nanosensors and nanotracers, nanoencapsulation, target and control delivery, food processing, food preservation, nanofertilizers, nanoadditives, nutraceuticals production, and intelligent packaging. Different nanoparticles including gold, silver, zinc, iron, titanium dioxide, nanorods, nanoshells, and quantum dots are used in food sector due to their antibacterial, antifungal, and antipathogenic properties, interactions of nanoparticles with microbial cell membrane through electrostatic interactions, and their accumulation in cytoplasm and different organelles. The conventional and standard agribusiness resources can be developed by nanobiotechnology to enhance the global wealth and market value. Safety assessment and regulation policies need to be followed before marketing nanoproducts to control health-related risks. Novel innovations of nanobiotechnology in agribusiness sector can be achieved by further innovations on nanostructures and by developing methods to achieve controlled interactions at molecular level. This review highlights the functionality and applicability of food-nanotechnology, applications of nanobiotechnology in agribusiness sector, and their safety assessment.