About this Research Topic
In recent years, the nanotechnology applications in food and agrichemical industry has increased chronic human oral exposure of consumers to dietary nanoparticles (NPs).
It is known that the nanomaterials as rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective sensors can improve the food safety by pathogen and chemical pollutant detection, but also that nano-clays, metal nanoparticles, and nanocomposites used in food packaging and processing can enhance the shelf life of product preserving their quality. Further application is the use of allergen-encapsulating polymeric NPs made of the biodegradable polymer poly(lactide-co-glycolide) that reprograms allergen-specific Th2 cells in food allergic recipients toward a tolerogenic immune pathways, as occurs in allergen-specific immunotherapy.
Little is known about potential adverse health outcomes from the interactions of NPs with components of the food matrix and gastrointestinal system. NPs in contact with food can also lead to the risk of immunogenicity. In fact, the immune system can recognize NPs as foreign bodies and trigger immune responses, leading to chronic inflammation or allergic reactions. Growing evidence supports the role of NPs in the development of diseases related to immune dysregulation through multiple and mutually non-exclusive pathways such as the impairment of the intestinal barrier, the interaction with the immune system and the possible effect on microbiota.
Metal oxides and silicate NPs used in or with foods may cross the placental barrier and be excreted in breast milk. Furthermore, NPs can interact with cells involved in innate and adaptive immune response in several organs, altering cytokine production, activation of cell surface receptors and/or cell maturation.
In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and review papers on: 1) impact of chronic exposure to NPs on pathobiology/pathophysiology of food allergies, 2) effects of NPs on the intestinal immune response involved in oral tolerance induction, 3) interactions among NPs, intestinal tract and gut microbiota and, 4) “in vivo” and “in vitro” studies exploring toxicity.
It is known that the nanomaterials as rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective sensors can improve the food safety by pathogen and chemical pollutant detection, but also that nano-clays, metal nanoparticles, and nanocomposites used in food packaging and processing can enhance the shelf life of product preserving their quality. Further application is the use of allergen-encapsulating polymeric NPs made of the biodegradable polymer poly(lactide-co-glycolide) that reprograms allergen-specific Th2 cells in food allergic recipients toward a tolerogenic immune pathways, as occurs in allergen-specific immunotherapy.
Little is known about potential adverse health outcomes from the interactions of NPs with components of the food matrix and gastrointestinal system. NPs in contact with food can also lead to the risk of immunogenicity. In fact, the immune system can recognize NPs as foreign bodies and trigger immune responses, leading to chronic inflammation or allergic reactions. Growing evidence supports the role of NPs in the development of diseases related to immune dysregulation through multiple and mutually non-exclusive pathways such as the impairment of the intestinal barrier, the interaction with the immune system and the possible effect on microbiota.
Metal oxides and silicate NPs used in or with foods may cross the placental barrier and be excreted in breast milk. Furthermore, NPs can interact with cells involved in innate and adaptive immune response in several organs, altering cytokine production, activation of cell surface receptors and/or cell maturation.
In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and review papers on: 1) impact of chronic exposure to NPs on pathobiology/pathophysiology of food allergies, 2) effects of NPs on the intestinal immune response involved in oral tolerance induction, 3) interactions among NPs, intestinal tract and gut microbiota and, 4) “in vivo” and “in vitro” studies exploring toxicity.
Keywords: Food allergy, food nanotechnology, dietary nanoparticles, metal-based nanoparticles, immune response, oxidative stress, oral tolerance, nanotoxicity, gut microbiome, intestinal barrier
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