Antimicrobial functionalized nanoparticles for enhancing food safety and quality
Authors: Choudhary Ruplal , Rodov Victor , Kohli Punit , Poverenov Elena , Haddock John , Shemesh Moshe 
Published: January 2022

Original objectives The general goal of the project was to utilize the bactericidal potential of curcumin- functionalizednanostructures (CFN) for reinforcement of food safety by developing active antimicrobial food-contact surfaces. In order to reach the goal, the following secondary tasks were pursued: (a) further enhancement of the CFN activity based on understanding their mode of action; (b) preparing efficient antimicrobial surfaces, investigating and optimizing their performance; (c) testing the efficacy of the antimicrobial surfaces in real food trials. Background to the topic The project dealt with reducing microbial food spoilage and safety hazards. Cross-contamination through food-contact surfaces is one of the major safety concerns, aggravated by bacterial biofilm formation. The project implemented nanotech methods to develop novel antimicrobial food-contact materials based on natural compounds. Food-grade phenylpropanoidcurcumin was chosen as the most promising active principle for this research. Major conclusions, solutions, achievements In agreement with the original plan, the following research tasks were performed. Optimization of particles structure and composition. Three types of curcumin-functionalizednanostructures were developed and tested: liposome-type polydiacetylenenanovesicles, surface- stabilized nanoparticles and methyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes (MBCD). The three types had similar minimal inhibitory concentration but different mode of action. Nanovesicles and inclusion complexes were bactericidal while the nanoparticlesbacteriostatic. The difference might be due to different paths of curcumin penetration into bacterial cell. Enhancing the antimicrobial efficacy of CFN by photosensitization. Light exposure strengthened the bactericidal efficacy of curcumin-MBCD inclusion complexes approximately three-fold and enhanced the bacterial death on curcumin-coated plastic surfaces. Investigating the mode of action of CFN. Toxicoproteomic study revealed oxidative stress in curcumin-treated cells of E. coli. In the dark, this effect was alleviated by cellular adaptive responses. Under light, the enhanced ROS burst overrode the cellular adaptive mechanisms, disrupted the iron metabolism and synthesis of Fe-S clusters, eventually leading to cell death. Developing industrially-feasible methods of binding CFN to food-contact surfaces. CFN binding methods were developed for various substrates: covalent binding (binding nanovesicles to glass, plastic and metal), sonochemical impregnation (binding nanoparticles to plastics) and electrostatic layer-by-layer coating (binding inclusion complexes to glass and plastics). Investigating the performance of CFN-coated surfaces. Flexible and rigid plastic materials and glass coated with CFN demonstrated bactericidal activity towards Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (Bac. cereus) bacteria. In addition, CFN-impregnated plastic material inhibited bacterial attachment and biofilm development. Testing the efficacy of CFN in food preservation trials. Efficient cold pasteurization of tender coconut water inoculated with E. coli and Listeriamonocytogeneswas performed by circulation through a column filled with CFN-coated glass beads. Combination of curcumin coating with blue light prevented bacterial cross contamination of fresh-cut melons through plastic surfaces contaminated with E. coli or Bac. licheniformis. Furthermore, coating of strawberries with CFN reduced fruit spoilage during simulated transportation extending the shelf life by 2-3 days. Implications, both scientific and agricultural BARD Report - Project4680 Page 2 of 17 Antimicrobial food-contact nanomaterials based on natural active principles will preserve food quality and ensure safety. Understanding mode of antimicrobial action of curcumin will allow enhancing its dark efficacy, e.g. by targeting the microbial cellular adaptation mechanisms.