Developing nano-delivery systems for agriculture and food applications with nature-derived polymers

• Main Authors: Sampathkumar, Kaarunya, Tan, Kei Xian, Loo, Joachim Say Chye
• Other Authors: School of Materials Science and Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Engineering::Materials::Biomaterials; Engineering::Nanotechnology; Agricultural science; Food science
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/143307
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The applications of nanotechnology are wide ranging, and developing functional nanomaterials for agri-food applications from nature-derived polymers is widely conceived as a sustainable approach that is safer for human and animal consumption. In light of this, this review focuses on the advances in the development of nano-delivery systems using nature-derived polymers for agri-food applications. The review opens with a section detailing the different types of nature-derived polymers currently being used in various applications in the agri-food industry with a special mention on microbial extracellular polymeric materials. The major applications of nano-delivery systems in the food sector, such as food fortification and food preservation, as well as in the agricultural sector for controlled release of agrochemicals using nature-derived polymers are discussed. The review ends with a perspective on the safety and public perception of nano-enabled foods with a concluding remark on future directions of incorporating nano-delivery systems for agri-food purposes.