Starch is affected by several limitations, e.g., retro-gradation, high viscosity even at low concentrations, handling issues, poor freeze–thaw stability, low process tolerance, and gel opacity. In this context, physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods have been investigated for addressing such limitations or adding new attributes. Thus, the creation of biomaterial-based nanoparticles has sparked curiosity. Because of that, single nucleotide polymorphisms are gaining a lot of interest in food packaging technology. This is due to their ability to increase the mechanical and water vapor resistance of the matrix, as well as hide its re-crystallization during storage in high-humidity atmospheres and enhance the mechanical properties of films when binding in paper machines and paper coating. In medicine, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are suitable as carriers in the field of drug delivery for immobilized bioactive or therapeutic agents, as well as wastewater treatments as an alternative to expensive activated carbons. Starch nanoparticle preparations can be performed by hydrolysis via acid hydrolysis of the amorphous part of a starch molecule, the use of enzymes such as pullulanase or isoamylase, or a combination of two regeneration and mechanical treatments with the employment of extrusion, irradiation, ultrasound, or precipitation. The possibility of obtaining cheap and easy-to-use methods for starch and starch derivative nanoparticles is of fundamental importance. Nano-precipitation and ultra-sonication are rather simple and reliable methods for nanoparticle production. The process involves the addition of a diluted starch solution into a non-solvent, and ultra-sonication aims to reduce the size by breaking the covalent bonds in polymeric material due to intense shear forces or mechanical effects associated with the collapsing of micro-bubbles by sound waves. The current study focuses on starch nanoparticle manufacturing, characterization, and emerging applications.

The objective of this study was to assess the biologic impact of four diets based on three species of microalgae on the Mediterranean mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis. For this purpose, flesh weight, linear growth, survival rate and the biochemical composition of mussel flesh have been evaluated. Mussels fed with a mixture of the three species; Nannochloropsis sp., Dunaliella sp., and Phaeodactylum sp., exhibited the highest lipid level (7.66%). This suggests that mixing several species in the same diet favors lipid production. Protein level was significantly higher in mussels fed with Dunaliella sp. (28.92%) compared to Phaeodactylum sp. (24.52%), Nannochloropsis sp. (22.94%) and a combination of the three species (26.07%). Wet weight gain was significantly higher in mussels fed with Dunaliella sp. (7.76 g) compared to mussels fed with the mixture of the three species (6.87 g). However, mussel shell length was not different among the four groups, and ranged between 41.7 mm and 42.3 mm. In conclusion, the data from this study suggest that a diet based on Dunaliella sp. can efficiently cover the protein requirements of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis during the growth cycle.