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Nanotechnology recently emerged among the most exciting science-related innovations. Nanotechnology-produced metal nanoparticles got a lot of attention. This is emerging as a rapidly developing field due to its effective applications that targeted the manufacturing of new materials at the nanoscale level. There is considerable interest in the application of nanomaterials in many areas of industry including agrifood and biomedical products. In the agrifood area, nanomaterials have benefits in diverse areas which include fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, sensors, and quality stimulants, among other food processing, food packaging, and nutraceuticals to improve nutritional value. These applications in agriculture result in enhanced quality and crop yield, reduction in pollution caused by various chemicals, etc. In the pharmaceutical area, nanomaterials are claimed to ameliorate drug safety and efficacy, as well as bioavailability. They are utilized for targeting various drugs to a specific location in the body. However, there are also concerns that some nanoparticles may have adverse effects on human health. These include titanium dioxide, copper oxides, and other nanomaterials which lead to liver damage, skin damage, lung damage, and various other human health-related problems. This review is aimed at presenting a briefing on the state of the art in the application of nanotechnology in food and human nutrition and drug administration, consumer attitudes, and their challenges and opportunities with future perspectives.

The ability of broadband acoustic resonance dissolution spectroscopy (BARDS) to assess the wettability of powder blends is investigated. BARDS is a novel analytical technology developed on the basis of the change in acoustic phenomena observed when material is added into a solvent under resonance. Addition of solid material to the solvent results in the introduction of gas (air) into the solvent, changing the compressibility of the solvent system, and reducing the velocity of sound in the solvent. As a material is wetted and dissolved, the gas is released from the solvent and resonance frequency is altered. The main purpose of this work is to demonstrate the ability of BARDS to assess differences in the wetting behavior of tablet excipients (microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and magnesium stearate (MgSt)) and a model drug (metoclopramide hydrochloride) as single component powders and multicomponent powder blends. BARDS acoustic responses showed a prolonged release of gas for the powdered blends with lubricant compared to unlubricated blends. As the elimination of gas from the solvent was assumed to follow first order elimination kinetics, a compressible gas elimination rate constant was calculated from the log plots of the gas volume profiles. The gas elimination rate constant was used as a parameter to compare the release of gas from the powder introduced to the solvent and hence the powder wetting behavior. A lower gas elimination rate constant was measured for lubricated blends compared to nonlubricated blends, suggesting the prolonged hydration of lubricated blends. Standard wetting techniques such as contact angle measurements and wetting time analysis were also used to analyze the blends and confirmed differences in wetting behavior determined by BARDS. The study results demonstrate the capability of BARDS as a rapid, analytical tool to determine the wetting behavior of the pharmaceutical powder blends and the potential of BARDS as a process analytical technology (PAT) tool.

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Application of broadband acoustic resonance dissolution spectroscopy (BARDS) to the gas release behaviour during rehydration of milk protein isolate agglomerates,