Nanotechnology in the food industry: Current status, applications, safety, and future perspectives
Abstract
One billionth of a meter is referred to as "nano." When compared to their macroscopic counterparts, the properties of materials at this scale—such as energy levels, reactivity, and surface area—change dramatically. By enabling the creation, design, and control of forms at the atomic and molecular level, nanotechnology, a scientific field that capitalizes on these scale effects, seeks to create new materials that are more favorable, biologically active, or durable. Nanotechnology's growing importance in food science and industry has made it a highly concentrated field of study because of its implications for consumer health, safety, and sustainability as well as the opportunity it offers for creative product development. This review, conducted for this purpose, is an extensive study that encompasses the definition and classification of nanofoods, their current applications, and possible prospects for future developments. The results of the literature review using an intherdisciplinary approach – considering health consequences, application areas and regulatory approaches in comparison. It also reviews the safety and effectiveness properties of nanoparticles used in functional foods, nanoencapsulation technologies, antimicrobial and smart packing solutions adopted in the food industry as well as advantages of nanotechnology for the food market through food supplements. To evaluate the toxicological hazards and health benefits of nanofoods, a comprehensive compilation of data is presented, considering metabolic processes, bioavailability and biotransformation pathways. The other component of this review is the environmental factor as well. The environmental sustainability of nanomaterials from manufacture to consumption is discussed using ecotoxicological impacts and a circular economy viewpoint. Additionally, combining AI-based analyses with nanotechnology is a very interesting way to improve safety evaluations, make production processes more efficient, and make new food products. Furthermore, plant-derived and biotechnology-derived nanofoods offer significant research opportunities for sustainable production frameworks and personalized nutritional approaches. Consequently, this study comprehensively elucidates the present condition of nanofoods, their methodological and legal limitations, and the benefit-risk assessment. It also gives a broad view of future research that is supported by interdisciplinary methods.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Nanobiotechnology, Food Biotechnology, Food Chemistry and Food Sensory Science
Journal Section
Review
Authors
Damla İkballı
0009-0005-5206-8810
Türkiye
Alper Özengül
0009-0008-4261-2263
Türkiye
Ebru Halvacı
0009-0003-2343-0046
Türkiye
Gülsade Şahin
0000-0003-2149-2158
Türkiye
Youssra Saffour
0009-0006-7811-0340
Türkiye
Muhammet Dönmez
0000-0003-0106-2396
Türkiye
Fatih Şen
*
0000-0001-6843-9026
Türkiye
Publication Date
June 30, 2026
Submission Date
September 10, 2025
Acceptance Date
May 7, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Number: 065