Advances in Bio-coaters for Nanoparticles and Biodegradable Delivery Systems in Agriculture and Food Industry: Toward a Safer and Eco-friendly Nanotechnology

Abstract

In the last decades, nanotechnology has attempted to solve important problems of the agricultural and food industry. From the development of nanofertilizers and nanopesticides for the improvement of crop productivity to the use of metallic nanoparticles and nanocarriers for food packaging, the use of nanomaterials has greatly enhanced quality and quantity of our food. However, the mobility of nanoparticles into plants and the food chain has been described as potentially harmful for human and environmental health. This results in the necessity to search for replacements to the current nanomaterials employed on conventional delivery systems for agrochemicals and food packaging. Thus, this chapter addresses the recent advances in novel bio-coatings used in metallic and nonmetallic nanoparticles, engaged in agriculture and food industry, to enhance their biocompatibility as an attempt for a safer and environmentally friendly nanotechnology.