Nanotechnology for Food

and Bioprocessing Industries

Suresh Neethirajan and Digvir Jayas
The Canadian Wheat Board Centre for Grain Storage Research
5th CIGR International Technical Symposium on
Food Processing, Monitoring Technology in Bioprocesses
and Food Quality Management
31 August 2009, Postdam, Germany
E-mail: suresh.neethirajan@gmail.com

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Spinach May Soon Power Mobile Devices!

• Biologically inspired photochemical device

• Nanoscale photodiode from spinach leaves

• Rechargeable energy source

Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Nanotechnology?

“ ability to work at the atomic, molecular

and even sub-molecular levels in order to
create and use material structures, devices
and systems with new properties and
functions”

Source: National Science Foundation, USA

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Size and Scale

Source: Case Western University, USA

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Nanofood

“The term „nanofood‟ describes food

which has been cultivated, produced,
processed or packaged using
nanotechnology techniques or tools, or to
which manufactured nanomaterials have
been added”
Source: Joseph and Morrison (2006)

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Nanofood Market

1200
1000
1000
US$ Billions

800
600
400
400
200
7 12 20.4
0
2006 2009 2010 2012 2015
Year
Global Investment in Nanotechnologies in Nanofood Market
Source: Helmut Kaiser Consultancy, Germany; Mihail Roco, NSF, USA

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 Nanotechnology

Food Bioprocessing
1) Food Quality Monitoring 1) To sequence
2) Food Storage 2) To sense
3) Food Packaging 3) To screen
4) Food Processing 4) To metabolically engineer enzymes,
microbes
5) To assay small volumes

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 Nano Encapsulation
‘Tip-Top Up’ - Omega 3 Bread Canola Active Oil

- Nanocapsules with tuna - Nanoencapsulation of

fish oil fortified phytosterols

- Nanocapsules break - Reduce cholesterol

only in the stomach intake by 14%

Source: Tip Top Bakery, Australia Source: Shemen Industries, Israel

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 Nanoceuticals

• Nano Synergy Energy Booster (Viatmin, Calcium,

B-Complex)
• Lycopene (supplement carotenoid, phytosterols)
• Reduces the surface tension of foods
• Supplement to increase wetness and absorption

Source: BASF, Germany

Source: www.sprayforlife.com

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Nanocomposites

Lighter and stronger

Minimizes loss of CO2
from Beer

Nano food-packaging film

(Bayer Polymer Inc) Nanoclay particle based Beer Bottle
(Nanocor Inc)

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 Nano Bioluminiscence Detection Spray

Nanoengineered luminescent protein emits a visible glow

to the surface of Salmonella and E.Coli

Source: Agromicron Ltd

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 Bacteria Identification - Nanofeed

• Nano selenium may stop bird flu

• Nano chicken feed – polystyrene nanoparticles
bind with bacteria to chickens as alternative to
chemical antibiotics

Source: Biofactors Journal, 2001 Altair Nanotechnologies Ltd

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 Nano Powered Catalytic Device
Coated with 20 nm width Zeolite
nanoparticles Clustered Oil Molecules Dispersed Oil Molecules

 Harder to heat  Easier to heat

 Transfer heat slower Transfer heat faster
 Soggy & Oily fries  Crispier & healthier fries

Source: www.oilfresh.com

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Lab in a Pea Pod

Chip for Quality Analysis Protein Lab Chip

Source: Sandia National Laboratories, USA; CSIRO, Australia; Agilent Technologies

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Nano-Electronic Tongue

Nano- Electronic Tongue Quality control for beverages by

electronic tongue
Source: Kraft foods

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 Nanotags / Nanobarcodes
Nanoink Probe Tip

Barcodes written into fluorescent microspheres by photo

bleaching. Codes are written as bars of different width,
and intensity levels. Source: Braeckmans et al., (2003) Nanobar codes enable auto label
Nature Materials readability in super markets
Oxonica Platform
Detection Technology, UK

Source:Oxonica, Oxford, UK; NanoInk, USA

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 Water Filtration System

• Filters at 50 nm level
• Light weight
• Water purification for bioprocessing
industries

Hydration Technologies X-Pack

Source: Hydration Technology Innovations, Albany, USA

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Nano Cleaners

Non-toxic Nano Emulsion Disinfectant Nanocheck Algae Preventor

Source: Envirosystems Inc; Altair Nanotechnologies Ltd

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Nanotools for Food Research

Vitreous Non-vitreous
Atomic Force Microscope

Surface undulations observed on Durum

Wheat Starch (Neethirajan et al., 2007)

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 Nano Sensors for Grain Storage

Pressure Sensor
Carbon dioxide Sensor

Temperature Sensor

Acoustic Sensor

Odour Sensor Grain Bin Humidity and Dust Sensor

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 In to the FuTURE

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CO2 Gas
Renewable Lifestyle Vehicles (bionano processing)
Nano oil free Biopolymer car tire

Nanotech plant resin for automobile

interiors (Mitsubishi motors)

Laminated wooden panel

Car seat foam from soybeans

Phototrophic Shell Source: LA Auto Show, Magazine, 2007

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 Nano/Micro Machines

Source: David Parker / Science Photo Library

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 Nanorobots / Nanophage

Micro Robot at the MIT Robotics Lab

Nanorobots in a capsule Nanorobot fly on a keyboard

Nanophage Source: David Parker / Science Photo Library

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 Challenges and Issues
• What are the unintended consequences?

• Potential Unforeseen Risks

• Consumers Safety

• Ethical Issues

• Little is known about how the particles interaction with the environment
and human body?

• Lessons from Genetically Modified foods and AgBiotech

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 Acknowledgements
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Council of Canada
• Canada Research Chairs Program

Disclaimer
Products and Companies mentioned in this presentation are not endorsed by the
authors or the University of Manitoba or by CIGR.

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 "The Next Big Thing Is Really Small”

www.sureshneethirajan.ca
Suresh.Neethirajan@gmail.com
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