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Scope of Nanotechnology in Nutraceuticals

Abstract:

Nanotechnology is one of the most interesting areas concerned with consumer products including electronics, cosmetics, household appliances, textiles, and food production as well as in medical products. Although the applications of nanoscale particles in therapeutic systems have been well documented and various systems have been designed for intelligent, modulated, and selective delivery of drugs to specific areas in the body to maximize drug action and minimize side effects, nanotechniques came recently in the industry of food. Various natural or synthetic polymer-based nanoparticulate systems and their conjugates are potentially available to the food industry, it includes protein, lipids, carbohydrates, or other nutraceuticals. Furthermore, the direct nanoparticle (NP) uptake is controlled by the size and surface chemistry of the NP system. The use of this direct NP uptake, in particular for soluble but poorly absorbed components, is one of the most needed areas to be explored as soon as possible, as well as the potential side effects of these NP carriers. To address this challenge, it is necessary to understand the chemical structure and properties of different nutraceuticals. Based on the scope of nanotechnology in nutraceuticals, this chapter describes the potential role of nutraceutical delivery systems in the form of NPs.