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Review
. 2011;4(1):39-47.
doi: 10.1007/s11947-010-0328-2. Epub 2010 Feb 19.

Nanotechnology for the Food and Bioprocessing Industries

Suresh Neethirajan  1 , Digvir S Jayas  1
Affiliations
Review

Nanotechnology for the Food and Bioprocessing Industries

Suresh Neethirajan et al. Food Bioproc Tech. 2011.

Abstract

Several complex set of engineering and scientific challenges in the food and bioprocessing industries for manufacturing high quality and safe food through efficient and sustainable means can be solved through nanotechnology. Bacteria identification and food quality monitoring using biosensors; intelligent, active, and smart food packaging systems; and nanoencapsulation of bioactive food compounds are few examples of emerging applications of nanotechnology for the food industry. We review the background about the potential of nanotechnology, provide an overview of the current and future applications of nanotechnology relevant to food and bioprocessing industry, and identify the societal implications for successful implementation of nanotechnology.

Keywords: Antimicrobial packaging; Bioprocessing; Food; Nanoencapsulation; Nanosensors; Nanotechnology.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Example of a futuristic wireless nanosensor network for grain quality monitoring. 1 Control panel, 2 grain auger, 3 air plenum, 4 fan, 5 auger to transfer grain, if needed, 6 wireless transmitter
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Schematic showing exploded view of a typical antimicrobial coating nanopackaging film; b Antimicrobial active packaging microorganisms hydrolyses starch based particles causing release of the antimicrobial lysozyme resulting in inhibitors of microbial growth (based on Buonocore et al. 2005)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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