materials are silica (SiO2), clay, cellulose-based nanofibers, graphene, silicate nanoplatelets, starch nanocrystals, carbon nanotubes, chitin or chitosan nanoparticles, etc. The nanocomposite can enhance barrier properties, flame resistance, better thermal properties, and alterations in surface wettability and hydrophobicity. European Food Safety Authority approved that the nano-TiN to use in package material can contact with food material. It is widely used in processing aid and to improve mechanical strength of polyester (PET).
Intelligent and successful food nano-based packaging offers many advantages, including improved mechanical strength packaging products, barrier properties, antimicrobial film for nano-sensing (Figure 1.1) pathogen identification, and food safety warning over traditional packaging techniques. Nanocomposites can also be used as active ingredients in packaging and coating material to improve food packaging. Several researchers were involved in investigating the antimicrobial effects of organic compounds in polymeric matrices, such as organic acids, essential oils, and nisin. However, these compounds do not comply with the many processing stages that require high temperatures and pressures because they are highly sensitive to these physical conditions. The use of inorganic nanoparticles allows for good antibacterial activity at low concentrations and increased stability under intense conditions [27]. The use of these nanoparticles in antimicrobial food packaging was therefore very important in recent years.
Nanocor® supplies specially designed plastic nanocomposites (nanoclays) owned by AMCOL International. Durethan® is used in food packaging and medical fields. It provides excellent gas and moisture barrier properties, strength, toughness, and chemical resistance. In South Korea, Hite Pitcher beer bottles were made out of Aegis™ OXCE (nylon 6 nanoclay composite) developed by Honeywell Polymer. It has high-oxygen barrier properties designed for alcoholic beverage and beer. A milk bottle and baby mug incorporated with silver nanoparticles have been developed by Baby Dream Co., Ltd., an infant product company in South Korea.
Figure 1.1 Features of food nano-packaging applied in the food industry [2].
Antimicrobial packaging is not limited to antimicrobial products, but nano-compositions and nanolaminates are widely used in product packaging to resist intense mechanical and thermal shocks, which increase food shelf life. The incorporation of nanoparticles into packaging materials provides quality foods with longer durability. Moreover, to ensure the highest food-grading quality and standard, polymer composites are designed to supply both thermostable and usable packaging materials. Numerous inorganic or organic fillers are used to produce better polymer composites. The addition of nanoparticles in polymers has made it possible to develop robust, cost-effective packaging material.
1.4.1 Usages of Nanosensors in Pathogen and Adulterant Detection in the Food Industry
Nanomaterials for use in the development of biosensors include high responsiveness and other modern features. In dietary microbiology, nanosensors or nanobiosensors are used to detect pathogens in processing plants and foodstuffs, to measure accessible foodstuffs, and to alert customers and suppliers to food health. The nanosensor serves as an indicator of changes in environmental conditions, such as humidity or storage temperature, microbial contamination, or product degradation. To achieve potential biosensor applications, former researchers have studied specific nanostructures such as thin films, nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanofibers. These thin, film-based optical immunosensors have contributed to efficient and highly responsive detection systems for microbial or cell detection. These immunosensors are used to immobilize specific anticorps, antigens, or protein molecules on thin nanofilms or sensor chips that transmit signals for the detection of target molecules. Dimethyl siloxane combined with carbohydrate biosensors has been very carefully identified and used for microorganisms, contaminants, and other food and beverage-related items due to their quick identification, usability and cost-effectiveness. The contaminants connected to such nanotubes induce observable shifts of conductivity of waterborne contaminants in the identification of waterborne toxins. Therefore, the use of an electronic nose or tongue consisting of several nanosensors tracks food by communicating scents of foodstuffs or gas signals [28–30].
Adulteration is one of the key challenges faced in the food sector. Nanosensors have better sensitivity and accuracy than other sensors, for example, gold nanoparticles functionalized with cyanuric acid groups selectively bind to melamine, a common adulterant used to inflate the protein content in pet foods and infant formulas. Similarly, melamine adulteration in raw milk can also be detected up to 2.5 ppb using nanosensors.
1.4.2 Nanotechnology Applications in Food Safety Issues
In addition to all of the benefits for the food sector in nanotechnology, the protection in nanomaterials cannot be overlooked. Many researchers have tackled nanomaterial protection issues, with an emphasis on the potential transfer of nanoparticles from packaging to food and their impact on the health of customers. Nano-packaged food products must be acquired in more studies to determine the danger of its nanocomponents because its physicochemical properties in nanostats are completely different from those of macrostats. Furthermore, the small size of such nanomaterials will raise the likelihood of body and tissue bioaccumulation. Dissolution is caused by several influences including the composition of the soil, concentration, soil strength, aggregation, and adsorption of particles [3, 31, 32].
The value of the application of nanometer-scale structures in the food industry has also increased in recent years, and research efforts in this field have been strongly oriented. As nanobiotechnology advances, devices or materials dependent on this technology become less and more responsive. Its applicability in the fields of food packaging and food safety is well known. Promising findings were also obtained for food safety nanomaterials that can protect food against heat, contaminants, and harsh environmental conditions (Figure 1.2). They deliver excellent logistics systems for the delivery of bioactive compounds to the targeted body tissue sites. In the use of nanotechnology in the food system, consistency in the safety risks and environmental impacts should be the priority, and compulsory testing of the relevant nano-foodstuffs until they can be used in the market is necessary [2, 33].
Figure 1.2 Diverse applications of nanotechnology in the food industry [3].
1.4.3 Bio-Based Nano-packaging in Food Industry
Bio-based nano-wrapping paper is a highly recyclable film used for food items for controlling moisture transfer and exchange of gas like CO2 and O2 for improved protection and for ensuring nutritional and sensory uniformity and reliability. Moreover, such type of materials in packaging are more socially friendly than conventional packaging films. As another type of packaging, biological packaging provides a barrier between consumer goods and their environment, thereby shielding them from harmful effects of microbes, relative humidity, and sunlight. The fundamental feature that separates biodegradable films from other packaging approaches is that the behavior of living things degrades these biodegradable sheets. This kind of body is the most common, as it is environmentally sustainable since all decomposition materials, e.g. carbon dioxide, biomass, and water, are fully reusable. Chemical packaging does not (or less) use fossil fuels to be used for consumer processing, and instead it uses green energy to recycle incineration power [34]. Therefore, nano-based bio-packaging sheets are very much popular these days due to their higher biodegradability
