Nanotechnology and azo-dyes in sweets

Nanotechnology is a fast growing field and consider as a key-technology of the 21st century. Nanoparticles are not only used in high-tech products or medical devices but are also more and more incorporated in food producers, for example in sweets. In addition, for food-coloring, azo-dyes are frequently used which makes an encounter of azo-dyes and nanoparticles unavoidable, The aim of this work was the isolation and characterisation of these dyes without including nanoparticles in a selected sweet product

Nanoparticle tracking analysis

Due to their extremely small size, nanoparticles cannot be analyses by conventional approaches such as light microscopy. To visualise particles in the nanoscale range, a combination of an ultra-microscope and a laser illumination unit has to be applied. This combinatory technique is called Nanoparticle Tracking Anlysis (NTA) and can be used of thr nalysis of particles in a size range of approximately 10 nm up to 1 μm in liquid suspension

Nano-bio Interactions

Due to there extremely small size, nanoparticles display a unique set of characteristics, which differ significantly form bigger moieties. These characteristics also shape their interaction with biological entities. There large surface-to-volume area, for instance, makes particles in the nano- and micro-range very reactive. Clubmoss spores are an example of naturally occurring microparticles

Toxicity of azo-dyes combined with TiO2 nanoparticles

Azo-dyes are organices compounds frequesntly used for food colring for example in sweets. A characteristic feature of az-=dyes is the axo-group (-N=N) as part of the chromophore. In parallel, nanoparticles (NPs) are more and more used as food additives and this, the encoubter of NPs with azo-dyes is highly likely. In particular, TiO2 NPs are inciroporated into foods under the tearm E171

Medical applications based on nanotechnology

Poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid can form nanoparticles which can be applied in nanomedicine as delivery vehicle for therapeutic agents. Here the aim is to reduce negative side-effects and to obtain higher local concentrations at the site of action. This work is about determining the binding-capacity of PLGA nanoparticles to several substances, applying a small set of model proteins. Our aim was to find out, whether PLGA nanoparticles can transport drugs in order to make drug targeting in medicine easier. This would show us a new section of medicine with new ways of therapy methods

Nano-bio Interactions

Due to theri extremely small size, nanoparticles display a unique set of characteristics, which  differ significantly form bigger moieties. These characterstics also shape their interaction with biological entities. Theri large surface-to-volum area, for instance, makes paritcles in the nano- and micro-range very reactive. Clubmoss spores are an example of naturally occuring microparticles