JOURNAL of

ADVANCED MATERIALS
OPEN Nanotechnology in Food Packaging: An
Overview
REVIEW ARTICLE

Available Online Preeti Singh and Saiqa Ikram

@ www.pristineonline.org Bio/Polymers Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Jamia Millia
Islamia, New Delhi-110025, India
Correspondence: sikram@jmi.ac.in

Keywords: Nanotechnology; Food Packaging; Nanomaterials; Food Industry

ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology is posed to have a big impact in food industry. Although the
application of nanotechnology provides numerous advantages related to food
How to cite this article:
safety and quality. It might present a potential risk not only to human health,
Journal of Advanced Materials, 2017,1, but can affect animals and the environment as well. Public perception could
1: 19-22
be crucial to the realization of nanotechnology in packaging food industry.
Nanotechnology may be used to produce packages with improved
mechanical and thermal properties, while nanosensors may be incorporated
in the packaging systems to alert consumers.

1. INTRODUCTION
Nanotechnology has a broader definition based on scale in which
manipulation of atoms and molecules from microns to nano (scale) level to obtain
the unique and different behavioral traits which can be applied for various new
applications [1]. Nanomaterials having length, width and height of nanoscale are
known as nanoparticles i.e. size between 1to 100nanometers in all the three
Received: 25 March, 2017
dimensions [2]. Nanoparticles main characteristics is to have a huge surface area
Accepted: 15 April, 2017
which consequences in greater chemical and biological activities as well as
Available Online: 16 April, 2017
catalytic behaviour compared to large particles (micron dimensions) having
similar chemical composition [3]. Many scientists and engineers have recognized
the potential of nanotechnology in various fields, such as computer electronics,
communication, energy production, medicine, antimicrobial, sensors, biomedical
and the food industry [4–7]. There are various commercialized applications of
nanotechnology such as in field of nanocomposite plastics and CNT’s in
packaging coating, nanoporous compounds in insulation and microelectronics,
nanoparticle in plastic, colloids, coatings and smart textiles, self-cleaning glass to
army uniforms that monitor the health of the wearer to camouflage that changes to
match its surroundings. Advances in nanotechnology are also affecting even food
products and its safety. This Promising application of nanotechnology in food
industry are currently in progress and vast topic of research for researchers and
Copyright: ©2017 scientist is to make the efficient nanomaterial having more potential to increase the
This is an open access article distributed yield and quality of product in agriculture and thereby increasing the nutritional
under the terms of the Creative Commons benefits also.
Attribution License, which permits Nanotechnologies can be look forward for economic as well as societal
unrestricted use, distribution, and profits. The use of nanotechnology in food may improve food security will be
reproduction in any medium, provided the
beneficial to industry, consumers and society because in the food industry the
original author and source are credited. profit margins are very slight, hence by implementing a new technology that

Journal of Advanced Materials, 2017, 1, 1: 19-22

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either reduces production and marketing costs e.g. through processing and manufacturing in areas such as pathogen
improved efficiency, reducing the food spoilage and detection, food engineering, packaging and equipment.
extended shelf life will benefits the firms products with Main focuses of our article is highlight the use of
more profitable values. With the increasing commercial nanotechnologies in food packaging with special attention
reality of nanotechnology is in greater demand now a days, to preserve their freshness, taste, quality and safety of food
there are growing concerns about the ability of existing product. The topic of this review includes application of
oversight tools to adequately protect human health and the nanotechnology in food processing, to detect freshness, food
environment packaging and safety as well as regulation of
Use of nanotechnology in food sector can be nanotechnologies to ensure food safety.
distinguished between two major forms of nano-food
applications: (a) food additives i.e. using nanoparticle in 2. DETECTION OF FOOD FRESHNESS
food and (b) food packaging i.e. using nanoparticle from THROUGH NANOTECHNOLOGY
outside not i.e. not consumable in food item. Nanoscale Consumer always demands high standards but at
food additives may for example be used to influence cost-effective food and the produce are always in search of
product shelf life, texture, flavor, nutrient composition, or innovative and cheaper methods to turn out for the
even detect food pathogens and provide functions as food preservation of food. The existing technology to combine
quality indicators. In the context of food packaging, packaging plastic for preservation of food with a dye which
nanotechnologies are mainly considered to be of use to changes colour due to the presence of oxygen clearly reveals
increase product shelf life, indicate spoilt ingredients, or signs of spoilage of food. Advance use of nanomaterials is to
generally increase product quality, e.g., by preventing gas combine with the dyes embedded in the form of
flow across product packaging [8,9]. In the packaging nanoparticles, or nanofibres in inner side of the plastic.
industry, the use of nanoparticles is at a more advanced Nanomaterials are very reactive in order to detect the
stage than it is in food production. In the form of composite unambiguous chemical species and provide a rapid
films, waferthin nano coatings of aluminium, or aluminium response. Nanoparticles are well efficient for detection of
oxide protect snacks or chocolate bars packed in them from other chemicals also which point toward the spoilage food
oxygen, water vapour and flavor substances. Nanoparticles like ethanol or even the existence of bacteria communicate
are also used in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles to the status of the product. Thus, nanosensors can be applied
improve the blocking properties of bottles against oxygen in to monitor the food quality and freshness during its storage
particular. and retail for health benefits. For example, milk samples has
Continuous development in nanotechnology tools been taken as a process stream because it is very easily
and gaining insights into nanoscale phenomena will be subject to different contaminations such as pathogenic
crucial to improve performance of existing nanosensors and microorganisms (e.g. Listeria monocytogenes), Mycotoxins
support researchers in the development of nanosensors (e.g. Aflatoxin M1), Drug residues (e.g. sulphonamides) and
based on innovative mechanisms [10]. Nanosensors are the Fraud (e.g. high value goat milk blended with cow milk)
devices that can sense nanoparticles in short span of time. A [11]. Researcher’s attention is required to use these changes
nanosensors key application is to improve sensitivity and to react with nanoparticles embedded in the milk cartons,
have aptitude to detect multiple chemical compounds resulting in a change of color of the carton. It would then be
concomitantly. The most immediate opportunity for easy for retailers and consumers to tell if the quality of the
revenue generation will come from the healthcare and milk has diminished [12].
biomedical industries.
Initial risks are always there with the emergence of 3. USE OF NANOSENSORS IN FOOD
any new technology. Thus, a proper management is PACKAGING
required to avail the benefits of technology. The The safety of food is always a concern for any
government is very active in funding the research programs government, researchers, producers as well as consumers.
related to study the health and environmental safety to With increase of population in the world the amount of food
various researcher institutes. Requirement of this type of required to be produced at large scale and its transportation
article is to make aware of current and upcoming and distributions to various other required cities are major
developments in the use of nanotechnical tools for foods concern with priority to food safety. Nowadays, nylon,
and packaging can inspire new understanding and ideas in polyethylene etc. are made of engineered materials used for
decision makers working in the food processing and Packaging. Many nanomaterials which are used for
packaging sectors and research programs aims to prompt different food applications on industrial scale such TiO2
nanotechnology innovation should also be started in nanoparticle are used as food additive and antimicrobial
university. Additionally, it is possible that the continued agent for food packaging and storage containers, Ag
expansion of nanotechnology may increase the number of nanoparticles are used as antimicrobial agents in food
jobs in research, development and the food sector. packaging, storage, chopping boards and refrigerators as
Nanotechnology potential applications in food sector well as health supplement, ZnO nanoparticles are used as
include agricultural production (plant and animal), food nutritional additives and antimicrobial agents in food

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packaging, SiO2 and Carbon nanoparticles are used as food exciting benefits of nanomaterials in food industry,
additives and for food packaging, Pt and Au nanowires can including provides the better materials for packaging and
be used as biosensors to improve the food analysis [13,14]. safety of having lesser contact with contaminant. Potential
Researcher’s attention is required to make a progress uses of nanotechnology for food analytical methods such as
towards even more smart packaging material made of for the detection of a chemical contaminant in food system
nanomaterials whose main aim should reduce the spoilage are to be utilized. This will result in more safety for the food
of food. Thus, nanosensor device can be used for food processing system. There is an urgent need for regulatory
packaging which can monitor the quality of the food, systems capable of managing any risks associated with nano
minimizes exposure to contamination and ensure freshness foods and the use of nanotechnologies in the food industry.
of the food produced. This can be the best way to ensure the Despite these potential benefits of nanotechnology
safety of packaged fresh products. in food industries is still young, and the prospect of this
Nanosensor can be used for food packaging by exhilarating field is still largely indecisive. Its potential
embedding the sensor made of nanomaterial in dangers and ethical questions about use of this technology
pharmaceutical packages or sealed food that provide visible will pose, successful and safe implementation of nano
information about the status of the content and its freshness applications in consumption of food will require constant
whether the package is consumable or else spoiled, etc. Such dialogue between the scientists, health companies and
smart packaging systems would be able to repair small environment consequences are still worries for researchers
holes/tears and mutually response to changing and a lot of work is required to be done to study the life
environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture cycle of using nano particle in food sector. If we succeed in
content and alert the customer if the food is contaminated. these endeavours, then the benefits of nanotechnology may
Nanotechnology provides solutions to the above said play an important role in making the world’s food supply
problems by modifying the permeation behaviour of foils, healthier, safer and more plentiful.
increasing barrier properties (mechanical, thermal, chemical
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