Antimicrobial coatings for controlling Listeria monocytogenes based on polylactide modified with titanium dioxide and illuminated with UV-A

Evaluation of the ZnO Nanopillar Surface for Disinfection Applications

Much attention has been devoted to the synthesis and antimicrobial studies of nanopatterned surfaces. However, factors contributing to their potential and eventual application, such as large-scale synthesis, material durability, and biocompatibility, are often neglected in such studies. In this paper, the ZnO nanopillar surface is found to be amenable to synthesis in large forms and stable upon exposure to highly accelerated lifetime tests (HALT) without any detrimental effect on its antimicrobial activity. Additionally, the material is effective against clinically isolated pathogens and biocompatible in vivo. These findings illustrate the broad applicability of ZnO nanopillar surfaces in the common equipment used in health-care and consumer industries.

Antimicrobial activities of chitosan/titanium dioxide composites as a biological nanolayer for food preservation: A review

Packaging is an integral part of food industry that preserves the properties of food during storage. Food spoilage caused by foodborne microorganisms is a public health problem that imposes a significant burden on the healthcare systems. Moreover, packaging based on artificial and chemical materials such as plastic is destructive to the environment. Chitosan can be categorized as an active food packaging material because of its inherent antimicrobial properties and capacity to carry various active components. Combining chitosan and metallic nanoparticles can be used as a practical approach in antimicrobial packaging systems. This strategy has advantages of thermal stability, barrier properties, antioxidant and antimicrobial packaging. Titanium dioxide is one of these nanoparticles that plays a photocatalytic role by releasing reactive oxygen species, thereby leading to the destruction of microorganisms' cell wall and extension of food shelf life. This review elaborates on the antimicrobial applications of chitosan/titanium dioxide nanoparticles films in food packaging systems.

Antimicrobial Nanoparticles Incorporated in Edible Coatings and Films for the Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables

Edible coatings and films (ECF) are employed as matrixes for incorporating antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs), and then they are applied on the fruits and vegetables to prolong shelf life and enhance storage quality. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the preparation, antimicrobial properties and mechanisms, surface and physical qualities of ECF containing antimicrobial NPs, and its efficient application to vegetables and fruits as well. Following an introduction on the properties of the main edible coating materials, the preparation technologies of ECF with NPs are summarized. The antimicrobial activity of ECF with NPs against the tested microorganism was observed by many researchers. This might be mainly due to the electrostatic interaction between the cationic polymer or free metal ions and the charged cell membrane, the photocatalytic reaction of NPs, the detachment of free metal ion, and partly due to the antimicrobial activity of edible materials. Moreover, their physical, mechanical and releasing properties are discussed in detail, which might be influenced by the concentration of NPs. The preservation potential on the quality of fruits and vegetables indicates that various ECF with NPs might be used as the ideal materials for food application. Following the introduction on these characteristics, an attempt is made to predict future trends in this field.