Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Laboratory-on-a-chip technology-type silicon-based microfluidic systems are
well adopted in the market (Tay
2002
). Nano-electromechanical system (NEMS)
technology is already in use. NEM systems contain moving parts ranging from
nano- to millimeter scale and serve as developing tools in food preservation. The
US-based Polychromix has developed a digital transform spectrometer (DTS) that
uses microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology for trans-fat content
detection in foods (Ritter
2005
). NEMS could be used in food quality-control
devices as they are consist of advanced transducers for specific detection of
chemical and biochemical signals. The use of so-called micro- and nanotechnol-
ogies (MNTs) has several advantages in the area of food technology, food safety
and quality. The use of MNTs is particularly suitable to detect and monitor any
adulteration in packaging and storage conditions (Cane et al.
2006
).
Nanocantilevers type biosensors are able to detect biological-binding interactions,
such as between antigen and antibody, enzyme and substrate or cofactor, and
receptor and ligand, through physical and/or electromechanical signaling (Hall
2002
). Nanocantilevers type biosensors have the application of recognizing pro-
teins and detecting pathogenic bacteria and viruses (Kumar
2006
) and are well
accepted in studies of molecular interactions and detection of contaminant
chemicals, toxins, and antibiotic residues in food products (Ramirez Frometa
2006
). The EU-funded BioFinger project has developed portable biosensor
Bio-Nano and MicroElectroMechanical Systems (BioMEMS) using
nanocantilevers for detection of biological entities, chemicals, and toxins (Joseph
and Morrison
2006
; Jain
2008
). Detection of
E. coli
, an indicator of fecal pollution
of water and food products, was carried out with the help of a cantilever coated with
agarose (Sozer and Kokini
2009
).
1.11 Toxicology and Safety Aspect of Nanomaterials
The incorporation of nanomaterials into foods presents a whole new array of risks for
the public, workers in the food industry, and farmers because chemically they are
more reactive than larger particles with greater access to our bodies than larger
particles. They have enhanced toxicity due to greater bioavailability and even
compromise our immune system response and may have pathological effects in the
long term (Hoet et al.
2004
;MillerandSenjen
2008
; Chaudhry and Castle
2011
).
In a recent review, Chaudhry et al. (
2008
) stated that these nanomaterials may
translocate to the skin, brain, liver, etc. and may cause oxidative damage in cells.
Many reports on nanoparticle uptake by endothelial cells, pulmonary epithelium,
intestinal epithelium, alveolar macrophages, other macrophages, nerve cells, and
other cells are now available, but no concrete conclusion comes out regarding the
harmful effects on humans, plants, and environment (Chaudhry et al.
2008
). They
can translocate from the lungs to the blood, central nervous system (CNS) through
nerve cells and have been implicated in Parkinson
s disease and
even can reenter in the food chain (Miller and Senjen
2008
; Chau et al.
2007
).
s and Alzheimer
'
'
