Nanomaterials

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19 pages, 5966 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Hybrid Inulin–Soy Protein Nanoparticles Simultaneously Loaded with (-)-Epicatechin and Quercetin and Their In Vitro Evaluation

by Jocelyn C. Ayala-Fuentes, Maryam Soleimani, Jonathan Javier Magaña, Jose Mario Gonzalez-Meljem and Rocio Alejandra Chavez-Santoscoy

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(10), 1615; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13101615 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1593

Abstract

(-)-Epicatechin and quercetin have attracted considerable attention for their potential therapeutic application in non-communicable chronic diseases. A novel hybrid inulin–soy protein nanoparticle formulation was simultaneously loaded with (-)-epicatechin and quercetin (NEQs) to improve the bioavailability of these flavonoids in the human body, and [...] Read more.

(-)-Epicatechin and quercetin have attracted considerable attention for their potential therapeutic application in non-communicable chronic diseases. A novel hybrid inulin–soy protein nanoparticle formulation was simultaneously loaded with (-)-epicatechin and quercetin (NEQs) to improve the bioavailability of these flavonoids in the human body, and NEQs were synthesized by spray drying. After process optimization, the physicochemical and functional properties of NEQs were characterized including in vitro release, in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, and cell viability assays. Results showed that NEQs are an average size of 280.17 ± 13.42 nm and have a zeta potential of −18.267 ± 0.83 mV in the organic phase. Encapsulation efficiency of (-)-epicatechin and quercetin reached 97.04 ± 0.01 and 92.05 ± 1.95%, respectively. A 3.5% soy protein content conferred controlled release characteristics to the delivery system. Furthermore, NEQs presented inhibitory effects in Caco-2, but not in HepG-2 and HDFa cell lines. These results contribute to the design and fabrication of inulin–soy protein nanoparticles for improving the bioavailability of multiple bioactive compounds with beneficial properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Foods: Food Additives, Delivery Systems, Detection, and Safety)

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14 pages, 4503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selective Detection of Escherichia coli K12 and Staphylococcus aureus in Mixed Bacterial Communities Using a Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube (SWCNT)-Functionalized Electrochemical Immunosensor with Dielectrophoretic Concentration

by Inae Lee, Heejin So, Jungyoon Kim, Joong-Hyuck Auh, Marisa M. Wall, Yong Li, Kacie Ho and Soojin Jun

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(6), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13060985 - 08 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1611

Abstract

An electrochemical immunosensor has been developed for the rapid detection and identification of potentially harmful bacteria in food and environmental samples. This study aimed to fabricate a microwire-based electrochemical immunosensor (MEI sensor) for selective detection of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in microbial [...] Read more.

An electrochemical immunosensor has been developed for the rapid detection and identification of potentially harmful bacteria in food and environmental samples. This study aimed to fabricate a microwire-based electrochemical immunosensor (MEI sensor) for selective detection of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in microbial cocktail samples using dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based cell concentration. A gold-coated tungsten microwire was functionalized by coating polyethylenimine, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) suspension, streptavidin, biotinylated antibodies, and then bovine serum albumin (BSA) solutions. Double-layered SWCNTs and 5% BSA solution were found to be optimized for enhanced signal enhancement and nonspecific binding barrier. The selective capture of E. coli K12 or S. aureus cells was achieved when the electric field in the bacterial sample solution was generated at a frequency of 3 MHz and 20 V_pp. A linear trend of the change in the electron transfer resistance was observed as E. coli concentrations increased from 5.32 × 10² to 1.30 × 10⁸ CFU/mL (R² = 0.976). The S. aureus MEI sensor fabricated with the anti-S. aureus antibodies also showed an increase in resistance with concentrations of S. aureus (8.90 × 10²–3.45 × 10⁷ CFU/mL) with a correlation of R² = 0.983. Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes were used to evaluate the specificity of the MEI sensors. The functionalization process developed for the MEI sensor is expected to contribute to the sensitive and selective detection of other harmful microorganisms in food and environmental industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Foods: Food Additives, Delivery Systems, Detection, and Safety)

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14 pages, 1937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Synthesis of Zn(OH)₂/ZnO-Based Bionanocomposite using Pomegranate Peels and Its Application in the Degradation of Bacterial Biofilm

by Shafiul Haque, Hani Faidah, Sami S. Ashgar, Turki S. Abujamel, Jawahir A. Mokhtar, Mohammed Saad Almuhayawi, Steve Harakeh, Rajeev Singh, Neha Srivastava and Vijai Kumar Gupta

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(19), 3458; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12193458 - 03 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2100

Abstract

The ability and potency of bacterial species to form biofilms, which show antibiotic resistance thereby avoiding antibiotic surfaces, is a major cause of prolonged infections. Various advanced approaches have been employed to prevent or damage bacterial biofilms, formed by a variety of bacterial [...] Read more.

The ability and potency of bacterial species to form biofilms, which show antibiotic resistance thereby avoiding antibiotic surfaces, is a major cause of prolonged infections. Various advanced approaches have been employed to prevent or damage bacterial biofilms, formed by a variety of bacterial strains, to help prevent the associated infectious disease. In this context, zinc-based nanostructures have been recognized as a potential antibiotic agent against a broad spectrum of bacterial communities. As a result, a sustainable and green synthesis method was adapted in the present study to synthesize a Zn(OH)₂/ZnO-based bionanocomposite, in which aqueous extracts of waste pomegranate peels (Punica granatum) were employed as a natural bioreducing agent to prepare the bionanocomposite at room temperature. Furthermore, FT-IR, XRD, DLS, UV-Visible, PL spectroscopy, FE-SEM, and TEM were used to characterize the green route synthesized a Zn(OH)₂/ZnO bionanocomposite. The average crystallite size was determined using the Scherrer relation to be 38 nm, and the DLS results indicated that the Zn(OH)₂/ZnO bionanocomposite had a hydrodynamic size of 170 nm. On the other hand, optical properties investigated through UV-Vis and PL spectroscopy explored the energy bandgap between 2.80 and 4.46 eV, corresponding to the three absorption edges, and it covered the blue spectrum when the sample was excited at 370 nm. Furthermore, the impact of this green route synthesized a Zn(OH)₂/ZnO bionanocomposite on the biofilm degradation efficiency of the pathogenic bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis PF_1 using the Congored method was investigated. The Congored assay clearly explored the biofilm degradation efficiency in the presence of a 50 mg/mL and 75 mg/mL concentration of the Zn(OH)₂/ZnO bionanocomposite against the bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis PF_1 grown for 24 h. This study can be further applied to the preparation of bionanocomposites following a low-cost green synthesis approach, and thus prepared nanostructures can be exploited as advanced antimicrobial agents, which could be of great interest to prevent various infectious diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Foods: Food Additives, Delivery Systems, Detection, and Safety)

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18 pages, 2353 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Interactions between ZnO Nanoparticles and Polyphenols Affect Biological Responses

by Su-Bin Kim, Na-Kyung Yoo and Soo-Jin Choi

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(19), 3337; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12193337 - 25 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1799

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are used as a food additive Zn supplement due to the role of Zn in biological functions. They are directly added to complex processed foods or Zn-fortified functional foods. Hence, the interactions between ZnO NPs and nutritional or [...] Read more.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are used as a food additive Zn supplement due to the role of Zn in biological functions. They are directly added to complex processed foods or Zn-fortified functional foods. Hence, the interactions between ZnO NPs and nutritional or functional components can occur. In this study, the effects of ZnO NP interactions with two polyphenols (quercetin and rutin) on cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, ex vivo intestinal absorption, and solubility were evaluated. Moreover, the characterization on the interactions was carried out by analyzing crystallinity, surface chemical bonding, chemical composition, and surface chemistry. The results demonstrate that the interactions caused higher cytotoxicity, ex vivo intestinal transport, and solubility of ZnO NPs than pristine ZnO NPs but did not affect antioxidant activity nor intestinal absorption of the polyphenols. The interaction effects were more evident by ZnO NPs interacted with quercetin than with rutin. The crystallinity of ZnO NPs was not influenced, but the degree of exposure of the chemical bondings, elemental compositions, and chemical group intensities on the surface of ZnO NPs, quercetin, or rutin were quenched or decreased to some extent by the interactions, especially by ZnO NPs interacted with quercetin. It is, therefore, concluded that the interactions affect chemical characteristics and surface chemical sates of ZnO NPs, quercetin, or rutin, which can cause high cytotoxicity, intestinal absorption, and solubility of ZnO NPs. Further study is required to elucidate the mechanism of action of the interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Foods: Food Additives, Delivery Systems, Detection, and Safety)

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20 pages, 2995 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interaction between ZnO Nanoparticles and Albumin and Its Effect on Cytotoxicity, Cellular Uptake, Intestinal Transport, Toxicokinetics, and Acute Oral Toxicity

by Eun-Been Jung, Jin Yu and Soo-Jin Choi

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(11), 2922; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11112922 - 31 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2475

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are used as zinc supplements due to the nutritional value of Zn. The toxicity of ZnO NPs in the food industry is required to be elucidated because they have large surface area and high reactivity compared with bulk-sized [...] Read more.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are used as zinc supplements due to the nutritional value of Zn. The toxicity of ZnO NPs in the food industry is required to be elucidated because they have large surface area and high reactivity compared with bulk-sized materials and have potentials to interact with food matrices, which may lead to different biological responses. In this study, interactions between ZnO NPs and food proteins (albumin, casein, and zein) were evaluated by measuring changes in physicochemical property, fluorescence quenching ratios, and structural protein stability compared with ZnO interaction with glucose, the most interacted saccharide in our previous report. The interaction effects on cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, intestinal transport, toxicokinetics, and acute oral toxicity were also investigated. The results demonstrate that interaction between ZnO and albumin reduced hydrodynamic diameters, but increased cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and intestinal transport in a similar manner to ZnO interaction with glucose, without affecting primary structural protein stability and toxicokinetic behaviors. Hematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological analysis reveal no toxicological findings after orally administered ZnO NPs interacted with albumin or glucose in rats for 14 consecutive days, suggesting their low oral toxicity. In conclusion, the interactions between ZnO NPs and food proteins modulate in vitro biological responses, but do not affect in vivo acute oral toxicity. Further study is required to ascertain the interaction effects on chronic oral toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Foods: Food Additives, Delivery Systems, Detection, and Safety)

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14 pages, 1463 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles as Safer Seed Priming Agent to Improve Chlorophyll and Antioxidant Profiles in Watermelon Seedlings

by Deepak M. Kasote, Jisun H. J. Lee, Guddarangavvanahally K. Jayaprakasha and Bhimanagouda S. Patil

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(4), 1016; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11041016 - 15 Apr 2021

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3615

Abstract

The use of nanoscale nutrients in agriculture to improve crop productivity has grown in recent years. However, the bioefficacy, safety, and environmental toxicity of nanoparticles are not fully understood. Herein, we used onion bulb extract to synthesize manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO-NPs). X-ray diffraction, [...] Read more.

The use of nanoscale nutrients in agriculture to improve crop productivity has grown in recent years. However, the bioefficacy, safety, and environmental toxicity of nanoparticles are not fully understood. Herein, we used onion bulb extract to synthesize manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO-NPs). X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were used for the structural and morphological characterization of synthesized MnO-NPs. The MnO-NPs were oval shape crystalline nanoparticles of Mn₂O₃ with sizes 22–39 nm. In further studies, we assessed the comparative toxicity of seed priming with MnO-NPs and its bulk counterparts (KMnO₄ and Mn₂O₃), which showed seed priming with MnO-NPs had comparatively less phytotoxicity. Investigating the effect of seed priming with different concentrations of MnO-NPs on the hormonal, phenolic acid, chlorophyll, and antioxidant profiles of watermelon seedlings showed that treatment with 20 mg·L⁻¹ MnO-NPs altered the chlorophyll and antioxidant profiles of seedlings. At ≤40 mg·L⁻¹, MnO-NPs had a remarkable effect on the phenolic acid and phytohormone profiles of the watermelon seedlings. The physiological outcomes of the MnO-NP seed priming in watermelon were genotype-specific and concentration-dependent. In conclusion, the MnO-NPs were safer than their bulk counterparts and could increase crop productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Foods: Food Additives, Delivery Systems, Detection, and Safety)

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13 pages, 24496 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthetic Ligand-Coated Starch Magnetic Microbeads for Selective Extraction of Food Additive Silicon Dioxide from Commercial Processed Food

by Jun-Hee Lee, Sang-Mook You, Ke Luo, Ji-Su Ko, Ah-Hyun Jo and Young-Rok Kim

Nanomaterials 2021, 11(2), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11020532 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3811

Abstract

The amorphous form of silicon dioxide has long been regarded as a safe food additive (E551) that is widely used in commercially processed food as an anticaking agent. However, starting with titanium dioxide, there have been growing safety concerns regarding to the use [...] Read more.

The amorphous form of silicon dioxide has long been regarded as a safe food additive (E551) that is widely used in commercially processed food as an anticaking agent. However, starting with titanium dioxide, there have been growing safety concerns regarding to the use of nanoscale silicon dioxide particles in food as food additives. The size, morphology, and chemical properties of inorganic food materials are important parameters to determine its potential toxicity. Therefore, an effective means of extracting an intact form of SiO₂ from food without altering the physicochemical property of SiO₂ particles is of great need to accurately monitor its characteristics. Here, we report on an effective magnetic separation method to extract food additive SiO₂ from food by utilizing a diatom-originated peptide with a specific affinity to SiO₂ particles. The affinity-based magnetic separation was found to be specific to SiO₂ particles over other types of inorganic food additives such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. The size and morphology of SiO₂ were shown to not be affected by the extraction processes. This method was successfully applied to extract and characterize the food additive SiO₂ from six different types of commercial food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Foods: Food Additives, Delivery Systems, Detection, and Safety)

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16 pages, 4523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interfacial Engineering of Pickering Emulsion Co-Stabilized by Zein Nanoparticles and Tween 20: Effects of the Particle Size on the Interfacial Concentration of Gallic Acid and the Oxidative Stability

by Zijun Zhao, Wenbo Wang, Jie Xiao, Yunjiao Chen and Yong Cao

Nanomaterials 2020, 10(6), 1068; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10061068 - 30 May 2020

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 3716

Abstract

Lipid oxidation is still one of the major food-safety issues associated with the emulsion-based food systems. Engineering the interfacial region is an effective way to improve the oxidative stability of emulsion. Herein, a novel Pickering emulsion with strong oxidative stability was prepared by [...] Read more.

Lipid oxidation is still one of the major food-safety issues associated with the emulsion-based food systems. Engineering the interfacial region is an effective way to improve the oxidative stability of emulsion. Herein, a novel Pickering emulsion with strong oxidative stability was prepared by using zein nanoparticles and Tween 20 as stabilizers (ZPE). The modulation effects of the particle size on the distribution of gallic acid (GA) and the oxidative stability of ZPE were investigated. In the absence of GA, Pickering emulsions stabilized with different sizes of zein nanoparticles showed similar oxidative stability, and the physical barrier effect took the dominant role in retarding lipid oxidation. Moreover, in the presence of GA, ZPE stabilized by zein nanoparticles with the averaged particle size of 130 nm performed stronger oxidation than those stabilized by zein nanoparticles of 70 and 220 nm. Our study revealed that the interfacial concentration of GA (GA_I) was tuned by zein nanoparticles due to the interaction between them, but the difference in the binding affinity between GA and zein nanoparticles was not the dominant factor regulating the (GA_I). It was the interfacial content of zein nanoparticles (Γ), which was affected by the particle size, modulated the (GA_I) and further dominated the oxidative stability of ZPEs. The present study suggested that the potential of thickening the interfacial layer to prevent lipid oxidation was limited, increasing the interfacial concentration of antioxidant by interfacial engineering offered a more efficient alternative. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Foods: Food Additives, Delivery Systems, Detection, and Safety)

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