Background

Most nanotechnology applications for food packaging involve the use of silver nanoparticles or nanoclay. However, other nanomaterials can also be incorporated into packaging. Metal oxide nanoparticles have been added to petroleum-based and biopolymers to produce nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and barrier properties, and their antimicrobial effects have also been reported. However, migration of nanoparticles from packaging is of concern because of their potential toxicity in the human body and the environment.

Scope and approach

This review focuses on the application of metal oxide-based nanoparticles for producing nanocomposites. Advantages of incorporating metal oxide-based nanoparticles into polymers are presented, and migration of these nanomaterials from packaging into foods is discussed. Furthermore, an overview of the regulations for nanomaterials in packaging is presented.

Key findings and conclusions

Addition of metal oxide nanoparticles into polymers allows for the production of nanocomposites with increased mechanical strength and water and oxygen barrier properties, and can also confer other benefits including antimicrobial activity and light-blocking properties. Migration studies have demonstrated that only a negligible amount of nanomaterial migrates from packaging into food simulants or foods, suggesting that consumer exposure to these nanomaterials and its associated health risks would be low. However, the regulatory framework for nanomaterials in packaging is still underdeveloped even in major economies.

中文翻译：

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食品包装中基于金属氧化物的纳米复合材料：应用，迁移和法规

背景

食品包装的大多数纳米技术应用都涉及银纳米颗粒或纳米粘土的使用。但是，也可以将其他纳米材料掺入包装中。金属氧化物纳米颗粒已被添加到石油基和生物聚合物中，以生产具有增强的机械和阻隔性能的纳米复合材料，并且还报道了它们的抗菌作用。但是，由于纳米粒子从包装中迁移出来，因为它们对人体和环境具有潜在的毒性，因此值得关注。

范围和方法

这篇综述着重于基于金属氧化物的纳米颗粒在生产纳米复合材料中的应用。提出了将基于金属氧化物的纳米颗粒结合到聚合物中的优点，并讨论了这些纳米材料从包装到食品的迁移。此外，介绍了包装中纳米材料法规的概述。

主要发现和结论

将金属氧化物纳米颗粒添加到聚合物中允许制备具有提高的机械强度以及水和氧阻隔性能的纳米复合材料，并且还可以赋予其他益处，包括抗微生物活性和阻光性能。迁移研究表明，只有很少量的纳米材料从包装迁移到食品模拟物或食品中，这表明消费者接触这些纳米材料及其相关的健康风险将很低。但是，即使在主要经济体中，包装中纳米材料的监管框架仍不完善。