A novel study published in the journal, Foods, describes edible nanoparticle-based antibacterial agents to control foodborne diseases.
This research comprises a ternary nanoparticle with two active ingredients and a carrier material that was prepared from rosemary essential oil, nisin and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides.
Using Edible Nanoparticles
Interestingly, the use of functional nanoparticles with food-grade biological macromolecules including protein and polysaccharides has become a popular research area for novel food additives.
This is due to these molecules consisting of components that have a large surface area, a simple preparation process as well as having a flexible structure.
Figure 1. The morphology of nanoparticles including SEM-micrographs and surface, 3-Dimensional AFM images of RNNP (a–c) and TNP (d–f). © Lin, L., Luo, C., Li, C., Chen, X. and Cui, H., (2022)
This is especially significant for the application against foodborne diseases that can be attributed to pathogenic microorganism contamination, resulting in high mortality and morbidity on a global scale.
These pathogenic microorganisms that can infect food and result in severe infections in humans mainly consist of, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 600 million foodborne disease occurrences on an annual basis with more than approximately 420,000 lives lost, illustrating the significance in this area of research to reduce and prevent foodborne diseases.
Previous research on this food health crisis includes novel antibacterial strategies, including the development of new packaging and coating materials that consist of natural antibacterial agents.
Incorporating nanotechnology has furthered this research area through the use of biomaterials and nanocarrier technology via nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanohydrogels, and nanoliposomes.
For example, metal oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized as intelligent food packaging; findings indicated increased antibacterial activity.
Ternary Nanoparticle Research
The novel advancement in this field has now encompassed the use of ternary nanoparticles (TNP) comprising two active ingredients and a carrier material prepared from rosemary essential oil (REO), nisin and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP).
Figure 2. QCM of NNP, RNNP and TNP (a); XRD of Nisin, LBP and TNP(b). © Lin, L., Luo, C., Li, C., Chen, X. and Cui, H., (2022)
Rosemary essential oil was utilized in this research study as the main active ingredient, due to its high antibacterial and antioxidant effects.
These properties have illustrated the potential of REO to be used as an alternative ‘green’ antibacterial agent within food preservation and safety as a method to inhibit foodborne pathogens.
Additionally, the use of nisin as an active ingredient can also enhance the antibacterial and antioxidant activity within food as well as having the role of encapsulating REO due to its peptide-based material that can be used to form nanoparticles.
However, due to being easily degradable by enzymes within food ingredients, nisin can be combined with biopolymers or by incorporated into nisin-loaded nanoparticles.
The potential of LBP for use as a stabilizer for REO and nisin can increase the stability and efficiency of this effective combination of active ingredients.
The novelty of this research can be found in the dual ability of these nanoparticles to improve both the antibacterial and antioxidant effects within beef but also have thermal and storage stability within this food application.
The results of this research study included a reduction in in vitro populations of S. aureus and E.coli when treated with TNP compared to the control group.
The use of TNP as an antibacterial agent on beef was also found to have positive results with favorable preservation effects as well as a lack of change in color or texture, illustrating its potential for use in real-world applications.
Translatory Significance
The high encapsulation efficiency and stability of this ternary nanoparticle combination with multiple ingredients were able to demonstrate how protein nanoparticle instability can be improved.
Additionally, it also illustrated a novel strategy of addressing foodborne pathogens and the use of ‘green’ alternatives to increase the antibacterial and antioxidant activity and reduce bacteria populations.
Figure 3. The antibacterial effect of nanoparticles including the inhibition zones, TEM and time-kill curve of control, RNNP and TNP on S. aureus (a–f,m) and E. coli O157:H7 (g–l,n). © Lin, L., Luo, C., Li, C., Chen, X. and Cui, H., (2022)
If translated, the significance of this research could help in reducing the number of infections from pathogenic microorganism contamination, aiding a reduction in overall levels of mortality and morbidity.
This is especially critical on a global scale with less economically developed countries that are more likely to harbor pathogenic contamination, and less likely to have access to medical care.
The use of ternary nanoparticles within the food industry may have the potential to aid with food preservation and reduction in pathogens, not only for beef but for all types of food, further reducing the likelihood of foodborne diseases from pathogenic contamination.
News
New Research Reveals That Your Sense of Smell May Be Smarter Than You Think
A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience indicates that the sense of smell is significantly influenced by cues from other senses, whereas the senses of sight and hearing are much less affected. A popular [...]
Deadly bacteria show thirst for human blood: the phenomenon of bacterial vampirism
Some of the world's deadliest bacteria seek out and feed on human blood, a newly-discovered phenomenon researchers are calling "bacterial vampirism." A team led by Washington State University researchers has found the bacteria are [...]
Organ Architects: The Remarkable Cells Shaping Our Development
Finding your way through the winding streets of certain cities can be a real challenge without a map. To orient ourselves, we rely on a variety of information, including digital maps on our phones, [...]
Novel hydrogel removes microplastics from water
Microplastics pose a great threat to human health. These tiny plastic debris can enter our bodies through the water we drink and increase the risk of illnesses. They are also an environmental hazard; found [...]
Researchers Discover New Origin of Deep Brain Waves
Understanding hippocampal activity could improve sleep and cognition therapies. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine’s biomedical engineering department have discovered a new origin for two essential brain waves—slow waves and sleep spindles—that are critical for [...]
The Lifelong Cost of Surviving COVID: Scientists Uncover Long-Term Effects
Many of the individuals released to long-term acute care facilities suffered from conditions that lasted for over a year. Researchers at UC San Francisco studied COVID-19 patients in the United States who survived some of the longest and [...]
Previously Unknown Rogue Immune Key to Chronic Viral Infections Discovered
Scientists discovered a previously unidentified rogue immune cell linked to poor antibody responses in chronic viral infections. Australian researchers have discovered a previously unknown rogue immune cell that can cause poor antibody responses in [...]
Nature’s Betrayal: Unmasking Lead Lurking in Herbal Medicine
A case of lead poisoning due to Ayurvedic medicine use demonstrates the importance of patient history in diagnosis and the need for public health collaboration to prevent similar risks. An article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association [...]
Frozen in Time: How a DNA Anomaly Misled Scientists for Centuries
An enormous meteor spelled doom for most dinosaurs 65 million years ago. But not all. In the aftermath of the extinction event, birds — technically dinosaurs themselves — flourished. Scientists have spent centuries trying [...]
‘Mini kidneys’ reveal new insights into metabolic defects in polycystic kidney disease
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have successfully grown 'mini kidneys' in the lab and grafted them into live mice, revealing new insights into the metabolic defects and a potential therapy for [...]
Decoding the Origin of Life: Scientists Solve Early Earth RNA Puzzle
Recent research illustrates how RNA molecules’ chemical characteristics might have played a crucial role in the development of complex life forms. How did complex life manage to evolve on the early, inhospitable Earth? Initially, [...]
Improving infectious disease testing with gold nanoparticles
By harnessing the power of composite polymer particles adorned with gold nanoparticles, a group of researchers have delivered a more accurate means of testing for infectious diseases. Details of their research was published in the [...]
New micromaterial releases nanoparticles that selectively destroy cancer cells
Researchers have developed micromaterials made up only of proteins, capable of delivering over an extended period of time nanoparticles that attack specific cancer cells and destroy them. The micromaterials mimic natural secretory granules found [...]
Alzheimer’s Breakthrough: Scientists Make Revolutionary Leap
Dementia is a major health issue worldwide in the 21st century, impacting over 50 million people globally. This figure is expected to soar to 152 million by 2050, as the global population ages. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) [...]
How small RNA molecules regulate viral infections of bacteria
Viruses need hosts. Whether it's measles, the flu or coronavirus, viral pathogens cannot multiply or infect other organisms without the assistance of their hosts' cellular infrastructure. However, humans are not the only ones affected [...]
Computer scientists discover gap in the latest security mechanisms used by some chips
Over the past few years, hardware manufacturers have developed technologies that ought to make it possible for companies and governmental organizations to process sensitive data securely using shared cloud computing resources. Known as confidential [...]