Detection and characterization of engineered nanoparticles in food and the environment

Nanotechnology is developing rapidly and, in the future, it is expected that increasingly more products will contain some sort of nanomaterial. However, to date, little is known about the occurrence, fate and toxicity of nanoparticles. The limitations in our knowledge are partly due to the lack of methodology for the detection and characterisation of engineered nanoparticles in complex matrices, i.e. water, soil or food. This review provides an overview of the characteristics of nanoparticles that could affect their behaviour and toxicity, as well as techniques available for their determination. Important properties include size, shape, surface properties, aggregation state, solubility, structure and chemical…