Ion-chelated porous chitosan nanocrystal for highly efficient postharvest preservation

• Published in: Matter Vol. 7; no. 7; pp. 2567 - 2580
• Main Authors: Ma, Peihua, Jia, Xiaoxue, Zhang, Xin, Li, Yue, He, Yiyang, Li, Tangyuan, Wu, Christine, Joo, Yong Hoon, Lee, Seong-Ho, Meng, Taotao, Brozena, Alexandra H., Li, Stephanie, Wang, Qin, Wei, Cheng-I, Briber, Robert M., Mao, Yimin, Hu, Liangbing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 03.07.2024
• Subjects: antimicrobial coating; chemical residual removal; chitosan; fruit coating; nanocrystal; chitosan; nanocrystal; chemical residual removal; antimicrobial coating; fruit coating; MAP 6: Development
• ISSN: 2590-2385; 2590-2385
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matt.2024.06.004

The presence of pesticide and herbicide residues on fruits and vegetables poses significant health risks, making it a major concern for consumers worldwide. We engineered Cu2+-chelated chitosan nanocrystal (Cu2+-ChNC), a 1D porous material, from nanocrystals of chitin, derived from fishery waste, such as shrimp and crab shells. These nanocrystals are scaffolded by Cu2+ ions, forming a unique nanochannel structure with a diameter of about 1.5 nm. Our Cu2+-ChNCs have shown exceptional efficiency in absorbing common chemical residues, such as glyphosate and chlorpyrifos. Additionally, applying an aqueous Cu2+-ChNC suspension to fruits and vegetables significantly extends their shelf life, thanks to the antimicrobial properties of Cu2+ ions. The synthesis process of Cu2+-ChNC is scalable, and the full process only employs materials and chemicals recognized as safe in food by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our research indicates that Cu2+-ChNC is a promising material for effectively removing residues and enhancing the postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables. [Display omitted] •Cu2+ ion-chelated chitosan nanocrystals (Cu2+-ChNCs) showed 1D porous structure•Cu2+-ChNCs were used for pesticide residue removal and antimicrobial coating•Smartphone-based residue evaluation ensured convenient check of food quality This research reports utilizing a 1D porous material, Cu2+ ion-chelated chitosan nanocrystal (Cu2+-ChNC), derived from chitin (abundant in fishery biomass), for postharvest treatment of fruits and vegetables. Cu2+-ChNC is highly efficient in absorbing chemical residues such as glyphosate and chlorpyrifos; it also forms an antimicrobial layer on the fruit/vegetable surface after produce treatment. The synthesis of Cu2+-ChNCs is scalable: all starting materials are recognized as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it a promising candidate for widespread application in agricultural practices. An easy-to-use method for residue-level evaluation is implemented, which is based on the analysis of images collected using a smartphone, allowing for a convenient quality check by customers in household settings. The dual functionality of residual chemical removal and the antimicrobial property may significantly mitigate concerns of food safety for fruit and vegetable produce. Porous nanocrystals were developed using chitosan, derived from abundant fishery waste chitin, chelated by Cu2+ ions (Cu2+-ChNCs). This material may find its application in postharvest fruit and vegetable treatment: it is antimicrobial and can efficiently absorb harmful chemical residues, which may significantly improve food safety and quality. A user-friendly, smartphone-based program was developed to help customers check the residue level in household settings, which complements the physical application of Cu2+-ChNCs.