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25 Nanobiotechnology – A Green Solution

agriculture. Nanotechnology plays a crucial role here through precise farming

by using nanopesticides, nanoherbicides, nanosensors, etc. Nanocarriers, i.e.

nanocapsules and nanoparticles (e.g. silica nanoparticles, polymeric nanocap-

sules), are designed for the controlled delivery of pesticides, plant growth factors,

etc. Nanoparticle-mediated gene or DNA transfer in plants helps to develop

insect-resistant varieties. Use of nanoparticles in agriculture comes under “preci-

sion farming.” Nanofertilizers, i.e. nanoencapsulated micronutrients, are necessary

for plant growth, and biofertilizers are found to increase crop yield and quality to

a much greater extent than conventional fertilizers. Nanoemulsions, nanocages,

and nano containers are some of the formulations for the delivery of pesticides.

Carbon nanotubes with high penetrating power can fasten the germination of seeds

as studied with tomato seedlings. Specifically, engineered nanosensors are used

for in situ and real-time monitoring of crop diseases, and growth rate, nutrient

deficiency, and environmental conditions help to detect traces of pesticides and

herbicides in crops, vegetables, and fruits, etc. Graphene, a nanomaterial, can

detect pathogen in wastewater and help to purify it as drinking water, thus finding

a potential application in aquaculture [16, 19, 20].

Water is one of the most precious natural resources. However, fresh usable water is

only 3% of the world’s supply, and about 70% of the fresh water is essential for agricul-

ture. Nanotechnical approaches help in the detection of contaminants at molecular

level, provide cost-effective decentralized water purification system, with efficient

nanofiltration system helps in recycling rainwater to drinking water or seawater to

drinking water. Thus, with the aid of green nanotechnology, huge amount of drink-

ing water can be produced using solar and wind energy, the renewable sources of

energy in a cost effective, sustainable way. Nanotechnology and nanobiotechnology

have a great potential in wastewater treatment and thus waste management [16, 20].

Nanotechnology has a vast application in food industry and has given rise to the

domain “food nanotechnology.” Food nanotechnology finds applications in food pro-

cessing, preservation, value addition, and packaging. The food matrix is a complex

system with several nanosized elements whose self-assembly further gives rise to

higher structural units. Food quality and safety is a matter of great concern. Food

nanotechnology and nanobiotechnology focus on enhanced efficacy and bioavail-

ability, increased stability and shelf life, value addition, and improved organoleptic

acceptability of the food items. Food nanotechnology is applied in two forms: as

“nano inside,” i.e. in food additives, and “nano outside,” i.e. in food packagings.

The two approaches, “top down” and “bottom up,” do find applications in food nan-

otechnology. Physical processing of food materials like grinding and milling comes

under “top-down approach.” On the other hand, the concepts of self-organization,

self-assembly derived from biology are considered as “bottom-up approaches” in

food nanotechnology. Nanotechnology has led to the development of nanocompos-

ites and nanoemulsions having substantial applications in food industry. Nanocom-

posites made up of polymers in combination with nanoparticles help to keep food

fresh for long, avoid microbial spoilage, act as gas barriers, and help to detect leak-

age of CO2 from carbonated beverage bottles. Nanocomposites of SnO2 help to detect

oxygen leakage in packagings. Nanoclays are a variety of nanocomposites broadly