239
Nanosensors improve production in agriculture with increasing efficiency of soil
suppliers such as minimum loss of input like irrigation, pesticide, and fertilizers
(Scott and Chen 2013). The most used nanosensors in agriculture are (i) bionanosensors and (ii) electrical-nanosensors. In agriculture and food arena, biosensors are
manufactured for the exact assessment of microcystin toxicity as the hepatotoxins
produced by cyanobacteria that put the agriculture, animal’s and human’s health at
risk (Singh et al. 2012). Accurate time-based information including food and environment pesticide detection is achievable by the wireless nanosensors (Dubey and
Mailapalli 2016). Carbon nanotube-based electrochemical sensor with deposited
gold nanoparticle was designed to detect triazophos, which is an insecticide in postharvest vegetables (Li et al. 2012). Gold and silver nanoparticles also used in a
biosensor to detect organophosphorus pesticide level in the environment and postharvest food (Simonian et al. 2005; Wu et al. 2011).
Monitoring food safety and quality is also important in food production and processing industries while identifying food spoilage at early stages is vital for consumers. Hence, nanotechnology can play its role in providing advanced quick
diagnostic sensors for the food spoilage detection and therefore controlling both
food safety and quality (Ingale and Chaudhari 2018; Bhattacharya et al. 2007;
Kumar et al. 2017). Nanosensors have a lot of potentials to accelerate the detection,
identification, and determination of pathogens, spoiled material, chemical agents
such as xanthine and hypoxanthine, mycotoxins, allergic proteins, and food freshness. They also help with the detection of any food color and gaseous changes due
to the food spoilage. Therefore, nanosensors are significantly effective in many agrifood sections (Ramachandraiah et al. 2015; Mao et al. 2006; Hamad et al. 2018;
Karimi et al. 2018; Attia et al. 2018). Notably, the higher sensitivity and selectivity
of nanosensors in the food industry makes them more efficient than the conventional
sensor systems (Hamad et al. 2018).
Produced chemicals throughout food spoilage can be detected via the package
nanosensors, which act as electronic tongues or noses (García et al. 2006). Sensitive,
tiny, and widespread nanosensors based on microfluidics devices can also be applied
for fast pathogen detection in real time. These sensors need only microliters of
sample volumes for the detection of compounds (Baeumner 2004; Mabeck and
Malliaras 2006; Vo-Dinh et al. 2001). Silicon-based microfluidic systems have
proven popular in the so-called laboratory-on-a-chip technology (Tay 2002).
Devices with the “nanoelectromechanical systems” (NEMS) technology are
already in use for the food analysis and might serve as developing tools in food
preservation. They can control the storage environment. NEMS could be used in
food quality-control devices because they consist of advanced transducers for specific chemical and biochemical signal detection. The use of so-called micro- and
nanotechnologies (MNTs) has advantages for food technology. Some of the advantages are low costs, portable instrumentation with quick response, and smart communication through various frequency levels. MNTs in the field of food safety and
quality can discover adulterations in packaging and storage conditions
(Ravichandran 2010).
9 Impact of Nanomaterials on the Food Chain
Nanosensors improve production in agriculture with increasing efficiency of soil
suppliers such as minimum loss of input like irrigation, pesticide, and fertilizers
(Scott and Chen 2013). The most used nanosensors in agriculture are (i) bionanosensors and (ii) electrical-nanosensors. In agriculture and food arena, biosensors are
manufactured for the exact assessment of microcystin toxicity as the hepatotoxins
produced by cyanobacteria that put the agriculture, animal’s and human’s health at
risk (Singh et al. 2012). Accurate time-based information including food and environment pesticide detection is achievable by the wireless nanosensors (Dubey and
Mailapalli 2016). Carbon nanotube-based electrochemical sensor with deposited
gold nanoparticle was designed to detect triazophos, which is an insecticide in postharvest vegetables (Li et al. 2012). Gold and silver nanoparticles also used in a
biosensor to detect organophosphorus pesticide level in the environment and postharvest food (Simonian et al. 2005; Wu et al. 2011).
Monitoring food safety and quality is also important in food production and processing industries while identifying food spoilage at early stages is vital for consumers. Hence, nanotechnology can play its role in providing advanced quick
diagnostic sensors for the food spoilage detection and therefore controlling both
food safety and quality (Ingale and Chaudhari 2018; Bhattacharya et al. 2007;
Kumar et al. 2017). Nanosensors have a lot of potentials to accelerate the detection,
identification, and determination of pathogens, spoiled material, chemical agents
such as xanthine and hypoxanthine, mycotoxins, allergic proteins, and food freshness. They also help with the detection of any food color and gaseous changes due
to the food spoilage. Therefore, nanosensors are significantly effective in many agrifood sections (Ramachandraiah et al. 2015; Mao et al. 2006; Hamad et al. 2018;
Karimi et al. 2018; Attia et al. 2018). Notably, the higher sensitivity and selectivity
of nanosensors in the food industry makes them more efficient than the conventional
sensor systems (Hamad et al. 2018).
Produced chemicals throughout food spoilage can be detected via the package
nanosensors, which act as electronic tongues or noses (García et al. 2006). Sensitive,
tiny, and widespread nanosensors based on microfluidics devices can also be applied
for fast pathogen detection in real time. These sensors need only microliters of
sample volumes for the detection of compounds (Baeumner 2004; Mabeck and
Malliaras 2006; Vo-Dinh et al. 2001). Silicon-based microfluidic systems have
proven popular in the so-called laboratory-on-a-chip technology (Tay 2002).
Devices with the “nanoelectromechanical systems” (NEMS) technology are
already in use for the food analysis and might serve as developing tools in food
preservation. They can control the storage environment. NEMS could be used in
food quality-control devices because they consist of advanced transducers for specific chemical and biochemical signal detection. The use of so-called micro- and
nanotechnologies (MNTs) has advantages for food technology. Some of the advantages are low costs, portable instrumentation with quick response, and smart communication through various frequency levels. MNTs in the field of food safety and
quality can discover adulterations in packaging and storage conditions
(Ravichandran 2010).
9 Impact of Nanomaterials on the Food Chain