分子遺伝医学

Bio-Nanotechnology and its Role in Agriculture and Food Industry

Abstract

Thakur S, Thakur S and Kumar R

Bulk material is divided into small size particles with one or more dimensions in the nanometer range or even smaller, the individual particles exhibit unexpected properties which are different from those of the bulk material. Due to distinct properties of nanomaterials like improved plant disease resistance, detect the mycotoxins in food, efficient nutrient utilization and enhanced plant growth. Bio-Nanotechnology combines biological principles with physical and chemical approaches to produce nano-size particles with specific functions. It also represents an economic substitute for chemical and physical methods of nanoparticles formation. Metal nanoparticles exhibit good anti-pathogenic, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal activities due to electrostatic interaction of nanoparticles with bacterial cell membrane and their accumulation in cytoplasm. Nano-fertilizers may contain zinc, silica, iron and titanium dioxide, gold nano-rods, core shell QDs, etc. The carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles of silver, zinc oxide, etc can be really helpful in remediating the plant growth by ensuring that the nutrients are utilized optimally by the plants. Nanoscale biomaterials can take part in pathogen detection as well as helps in nanoscale purification systems for improved food quality. Some important aspects covered such as nano-additives, intelligent packaging, control and nutraceuticals delivery, nano-coding of plastics and paper materials and nano-encapsulation and target delivery. Nanoparticles have been effectively entrenched in the packaging materials for making food storage, thus minimizing pathogenic growth on stored foodstuffs. The bio-nanotechnology is a forward-looking process and acts as an agricultural biosecurity.