Antimicrobial properties of chitosan and mode of action: A state of the art review

Antimicrobial nanomaterials for water disinfection and microbial control: Potential applications and implications

Strain specificity in antimicrobial activity of silver and copper nanoparticles

In this article, several applications of nanomaterials in food packaging and food safety are reviewed, including: polymer/clay nanocomposites as high barrier packaging materials, silver nanoparticles as potent antimicrobial agents, and nanosensors and nanomaterial-based assays for the detection of food-relevant analytes (gasses, small organic molecules and food-borne pathogens). In addition to covering the technical aspects of these topics, the current commercial status and understanding of health implications of these technologies are also discussed. These applications were chosen because they do not involve direct addition of nanoparticles to consumed foods, and thus are more likely to be marketed to the public in the short term.

Applications of nanotechnology in food packaging and food safety: Barrier materials, antimicrobials and sensors

Polysaccharides-based nanoparticles as drug delivery systems

Preparation and antibacterial activity of chitosan nanoparticles.

Cytotoxic activities of chitosan nanoparticles and copper-loaded nanoparticles.

AIM: To investigate the effects of chitosan nanoparticles on proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cell line MGC803 in vitro and the possible mechanisms involved.

METHODS: Chitosan nanoparticles were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, and morphology. After treatment with various concentrations of chitosan nanoparticles (25, 50, 75, 100 μg/mL) at various time intervals, cell proliferation, ultrastructural changes, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell cycle phase distribution and apoptotic peaks of MGC803 cells were analyzed by MTT assay, electron microscopy, DNA agarose gel electrophoresis, and flow cytometry.

RESULTS: Chitosan nanoparticles exhibited a small particle size as 65 nm and a high surface charge as 52 mV. Chitosan nanoparticles markedly inhibited cell proliferation of MGC803 cells with an IC50 value of 5.3 μg/mL 48 h after treatment. After treatment with chitosan nanoparticles, the typical necrotic cell morphology was observed by electron microscopy, a typical DNA degradation associated with necrosis was determined by DNA agarose electrophoresis. Flow cytometry showed the loss of MMP and occurrence of apoptosis in chitosan nanoparticles-treated cells.

CONCLUSION: Chitosan nanoparticles effectively inhibit the proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cell line MGC803 in vitro through multiple mechanisms, and may be a beneficial agent against human carcinoma.

Xia Jiang

Papers

Preparation and antibacterial activity of chitosan nanoparticles.

Cytotoxic activities of chitosan nanoparticles and copper-loaded nanoparticles.

In vitro effects of chitosan nanoparticles on proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cell line MGC803 cells.