Safety and fate of nanomaterials in food: The role of in vitro tests

• Published in: Trends in food science & technology Vol. 109; pp. 593 - 607
• Main Authors: Xavier, Miguel, Parente, Inês A., Rodrigues, Patrícia M., Cerqueira, Miguel A., Pastrana, Lorenzo, Gonçalves, Catarina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Biochips; Biocompatibility; Cytotoxicity; Food; Food chains; Food safety; In vitro methods and tests; In vitro testing; In vivo methods and tests; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology; New technology; Organ-on-chip; Risk assessment; Safety; Toxicity; Nanomaterials; Food safety; In vitro testing; Risk assessment; Organ-on-chip
• ISSN: 0924-2244; 1879-3053
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2021.01.050

The use of nanomaterials in the food and feed chain is expected to keep increasing in the years to come. While this brings exciting prospects to both industry and consumers, it also entails important considerations regarding their risk assessment and potential detrimental effects following human exposure. Aiming to standardise the risk assessment of nanomaterials, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recently published a new guidance where in vitro tests are indicated to play a key role. Here, we summarise the latest EFSA guidance aiming to bring it to a wider readership. Recent examples from the literature are critically reviewed regarding their adherence to the recommended methods, thus providing a basis for read-across justifications in future studies. This paper also looks into emerging technologies that may accelerate the development and approval of novel nanomaterials in food while reducing the need of animal studies. Few publications cover the extensive list of in vitro studies and parameters recommended by the EFSA. Nevertheless, some address specific sections (e.g. physicochemical characterisation or cytotoxicity) in a very comprehensive manner and we expect this review to contribute towards a better understanding of the importance of following a methodical approach in the risk assessment of novel nanomaterials in food. Lastly, emerging organ-on-chip technologies may arise as impactful tools to run toxicokinetics studies at high-throughput and with significant in vitro-in vivo correlation. •The safety assessment of the use of nanomaterials in food is of utmost importance.•There is an unmet need for the development of standardised risk assessment methods.•In vitro degradation and toxicity studies remain essential tools.•Few studies cover the list of methods endorsed by the European Food Safety Authority.•Emerging organ-on-chip technologies may provide high in-vitro-in-vivo correlation.