Introduction To Nanobiotechnology

ABSTRACT

Nanobiotechnology is the study of the smallest biological items of nano scale 1-100 nm to create devices and systems of the equivalent range that employ for new purposes. There are many applications of nanobiotechnology such as it is used in food packaging, drug delivery, diagnosis, etc. I have discussed the applications of nanobiotechnology in food safety. Nanobiotechnology plays a vital role in the safety of food. Food is usually contaminated with microbial pathogens or their toxins produced by them. Due to microbial contamination food-borne diseases and water-borne diseases are common. Nanobiosensors are used for the detection of food-borne pathogens. Biopolymer-based nanocomposite films, nanomaterials, biosensors, and nanoparticles (e.g. Ag-MMT) are mainly used in food packaging. Nanowire immunobiosensors array, bioconjugated nanomaterials, biosensor, nanocantilevers and carbon nanotubes are used to detect pathogens in food. Nanoscale titanium dioxide particles are used to block the harmful effects of UV light during the plastic packaging of food. Nanomaterial increases the shelf life of food products and help to keep safe from moisture, gases and lipids. Nanoencapsulation protects food during storage, processing and utilization from different sources of contamination such as heat, moisture, biological and chemical degradation. There are many other applications of nanobiotechnology in food safety that I have been discussed in the introduction of this review article.

INTRODUCTION

To know that what nanobiotechnology is, we need to know what biotechnology and nanotechnology are.

Biotechnology

For a layman and most scientists, biotechnology is considered as the transfer of genes from one organism to another which is also known as the process of gene splicing. But according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), biotechnology is the regulation of products by microorganisms. These microorganisms can be naturally occurring or can be genetically altered or manipulated by humans. (1)

For Example: We can make insulin in excess amount if we insert the human insulin gene into bacteria.

Nanotechnology

It can be defined as the field in which different techniques are used to create materials to perform new functions on nanometer scale (i.e. less than 100 nm). (2)

Nanotechnology has many applications such as it is used in medicines, electronics, food safety, fabric, etc.

There are two major approaches of nanotechnology:

1. “Top-down” approach in which bigger structures are abridged in dimension to the nano scale as maintaining their unique properties without an atomic-level rule (e.g. the smallest size of devices in the field of electronics).
2. “Bottom-up” approach besides called “molecular nanotechnology”, in which resources are engineered from atoms or molecular machinery by the process of self-assembly. (2)

Nanobiotechnology

Nanobiotechnology is the study of the smallest biological items of nano scale 1-100 nm to create devices and systems of the equivalent range that employ for new purposes. (3) There are many applications of nanobiotechnology such as it is used in food packaging, drug delivery, diagnosis, etc.

Applications of Nanobiotechnology in Food Safety

Nutrients which are essential for the growth of pathogenic microbes are present in food so it is important to make sure whether food is safe or not. Food is usually contaminated with microbial pathogens or their toxins produced by them. Due to microbial contamination food-borne diseases and water-borne diseases are common. So the different nanobiosensors are used for the detection of food-borne pathogens to make food safe for health. (4)

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Food-borne pathogens can be instantly detected by the use of bioconjugated nanomaterials, biosensor, nanocantilevers and carbon nanotubes. (5) To detect microbial pathogens, nanowire immunobiosensors array is used. (5) Food packaging includes physical, chemical and biological factors to make food safe and consumable. (7) Antioxidants, antimicrobial, biosensors and other nanomaterials are commonly used in the food packaging. (5) Silver-montmorillonite (Ag-MMT) nanoparticles are used in the appropriate food packaging process. It prevents the spoilage of fresh-cut fruit. (5) Biopolymer-based nanocomposite films are utilized in the food packaging system. It helps in the safe storage of food. (5) Nanoscale titanium dioxide particles are used to block the harmful effects of UV light during the plastic packaging of food. (5)

FOOD PROCESSING

It is a process of transformation of fresh ingredients into the food products with a long shelf life. They can be preserved for a long time and have less chances of decay so they will not spoil during the transportation. (7)

It includes the removal of toxins, keep safe from pathogens, storage, and make the consistency of foods better for good sailing. (7) Nanodrops are served as a liquid carrier of nourishing components. They are nanosized self-assembled structural lipids which cannot be dissolved in water and fats. (7) Nanostructures (food ingredients that work on the nanoscale) have ability to improve texture, consistency and taste. (6) Nanocarriers are optimized for flavors of food in food yields without changing the morphology. (6)

Nanoencapsulation improves photo stability and thermal stability by the nanomloecules such as inside the middle cavity of recombinant soybean kernel, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside is used. (6) Nanoencapsulation protects food during storage, processing and utilization from different sources of contamination such as heat, moisture, biological and chemical degradation. (6) Lipid-soluble compounds (bioactive) are the most common. They are created by the use of nano-emulsions and commonly used to improve the bioavailability and water dispersion. (6)

USE OF NANOMATERIALS AND NANOPARTICLES

In the nanobased sale able goods, silver and related resources are also applied amongst the accessible nanomaterials because of their antimicrobial characteristics. (5)

Nanomaterials increases the shelf life of food products and help to keep safe from moisture, gases and lipids. (6) Small edible capsules coated with nanoparticles supply beneficial healthy effects in daily foods. (6)

Nanoparticles have the ability to degrade pollutants and make new resources. Nanoparticles such as metal oxides, carbon nanotubes, nanofibres are used in the packaging of food to secure from any harmful thing. (7)

BARRIER PROTECTION

To protect food from any microbes and decay it is important to provide atmosphere having less oxygen. (7) Polymer nanocomposites help to protect food from gases. They are made up of polymer matrix. (7) NanoclaysMaterials that are based on nanoclays are also used to protect food from the penetration of gases. Nanoclays are collected from volcanic ash. (7)

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

These supplements are also named as nanoceuticals or nutrition-be-nanotech. (7) Food supplements in the nanotechnology are more efficient than other supplements. Because of their smallest size, they can react with the human cells in more better way. (7)

Encapsulation techniques are mainly includes in the supplementary manner. In these techniques, probiotics and other useful products with the help of nanostructured capsule (zinc or iron based) targets the human system. (7) Consumption of nutrients can be increased by the use of nanosized powders. (7) Nanocochleate has the ability of deliver nutrients to cell without changing the color and taste of food. (7)