This study describes functional properties of bionanocomposites consisting of starch/chitosan/graphene oxide (GO) obtained using the green synthesis method, such as water-barrier and optical properties, as well as the rate of degradation by enzymatic and acid hydrolysis. The toxicity of the composites and their effects on the development of pathogenic microflora during storage of meat food products was also investigated. Although the results showed that the barrier properties of the composites were weak, they were similar to those of biological systems. The studies carried out confirmed the good optical properties of the composites containing chitosan, which makes it possible to use them as active elements of packaging. The susceptibility of starch and chitosan films to enzymatic and acid hydrolyses indicates their relatively high biodegradability. The lack of toxicity and the high barrier against many microorganisms offer great potential for applications in the food industry.

Nanocomposites are an emerging technology for ensuring food safety and quality. Their unique properties, attributed to nanoparticle presence, facilitate the development of sophisticated sensors and biosensors for detecting harmful substances, microbial growth, and environmental changes in food products. Smart and/or active food packaging development also benefits from the use of nanocomposites. This packaging, or portions of it, provide active protection for its contents and serve as sensors to promptly, simply, and safely identify any detrimental changes in stored food, without elaborate techniques or analyses. Films made from potato starch and chitosan were produced and quantum dots of zinc sulfide (ZnS) and cadmium sulfide (CdS)were synthesized in them for this study. The presence and dimensions of the QDs (quantum dots) were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy. The study aimed to establish the toxicity profile of a starch–chitosan bionanocomposite integrated with ZnS and CdS quantum dots. Cytotoxic and genotoxic features were assessed through cytogenetic instability assessments, consisting of the alkaline comet assay, erythrocyte micronucleus assay, and peripheral blood cell viability analysis of a laboratory mouse model.

Curcumin is a natural bioactive compound of plant origin, characterised by a wide variety of properties that make it useful in numerous industries. Furthermore, due to its health-promoting properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects, it has found applications in medicine and animal husbandry. Unfortunately, curcumin has low bioavailability; its hydrophobic nature means it is poorly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, and it is rapidly metabolised in the liver. In recent years, research has been conducted into adding nanoencapsulated active ingredients, such as curcumin, to animal feed. This research aims to improve the bioavailability and stability of these ingredients, extend their shelf life, and enhance their absorption. These effects are expected to improve overall animal health, increase production efficiency, and enhance the quality of animal products. However, a significant challenge remains: the irreversible aggregation and chemical instability of bioactive substances due to the hydrolysis of their polymeric encapsulants, which can lead to toxic effects. This study utilised peripheral whole blood from five Blanc de Termonde rabbits. In vitro cell exposure was conducted using three distinct concentrations of nanoencapsulated curcumin (C1–C3: 10, 5.0, and 2.5 µg/mL) and a control. Cytotoxicity was determined by assessing viability using trypan blue exclusion, the comet assay, and the micronucleus assay. The results indicated that all tested concentrations of nanocurcumin significantly decreased the viability of blood cells to approximately 1–9%. In contrast, the encapsulation matrices themselves were not toxic (results were statistically significant). In the comet assay, the nanocurcumin formulations were toxic at all concentrations, and the results were statistically significant. Following exposure, the micronucleus assay revealed cell damage and a high percentage of apoptotic cells (up to 30% for Cur1 at 10 ug/mL). A significant number of binucleated cells with two micronuclei (BNCs + 2MN) were also observed, again for Cur1. In view of the considerable variation in the results from the individual tests, it is advisable to repeat the research using different matrix forms and concentrations of curcumin.

Rapid industrial growth is associated with an increase in the production of environmentally harmful waste. A potential solution to significantly reduce pollution is to replace current synthetic materials with readily biodegradable plastics. Moreover, to meet the demands of technological advancements, it is essential to develop materials with unprecedented properties to enhance their functionality. Polysaccharide composites demonstrate significant potential in this regard. Polysaccharides possess exceptional film-forming abilities and are safe for human use, biodegradable, widely available, and easily modifiable. Unfortunately, polysaccharide-based films fall short of meeting all expectations. To address this issue, the current study focused on incorporating carbon quantum dots (CQDs), which are approximately 10 nm in size, into the structure of a starch/chitosan biocomposite at varying concentrations. This modification has improved the mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposites. The inclusion of nanoparticles led to a slight reduction in solubility and an increase in the swelling degree. The optical characteristics of the obtained films were influenced by the presence of CQDs, and the fluorescence intensity of the nanocomposites changed due to the specific heavy metal ions and amino acids used. Consequently, these nanocomposites show great potential for detecting these compounds. Cellular viability assessments and comet assays confirm that the resulting nanocomposites do not exhibit any cytotoxic properties based on this specific analytic method. The tested nanocomposites with the addition of carbon quantum dots (NC/CD II and NC/CD III) were characterised by greater genotoxicity compared to the negative control. The positive control, the starch/chitosan composite alone, was also characterised by a greater induction of chromatin damage in mouse cells compared to a pure mouse blood sample.

Silver nanoparticles possess valuable physical, chemical, and biological properties, rendering them widely applied as bioactive agents in the industry. Nonetheless, their influence on the natural environment and on living organisms remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of polymer composites containing silver nanoparticles on sperm cells. The nanosilver polymer composites were chemically synthesized, employing sodium alginate as the stabilizer. The reducing agents employed were solutions comprising sodium borohydride and xylose. The concentration of silver nanoparticles obtained after synthesis was 100 parts per million. The examined biological species were rabbit sperm cells. The impact of nanosilver on the sperm was assessed through the elucidation of the toxicity profile, comet test, and analysis of morphological characteristics of the animal cells. The results of the study demonstrate a twofold impact of polymer composites infused with silver nanoparticles on domestic rabbit sperm when obtained through chemical synthesis using two reducing agents (xylose and sodium borohydride) at a 10 ppm concentration. The comet test showed no harmful effect on the DNA integrity of rabbit sperm by the tested compounds. Twenty-four-hour exposure of rabbit spermatozoa to silver nanoparticles, obtained by reducing xylose and borohydride, induced significant secondary changes in the morphological structure of male reproductive cells. These findings indicate the potential reproductive toxicity of silver nanoparticles.