Introducing Nanocrystals as a New Technology in the Production of Functional Beverages and Food Products

One of the most successful technologies for controlled drugs delivery in the pharmaceutical industry, is nanocrystals technology that recently this technology has been used in the food industry. Nanocrystals are materials that have at least one dimension smaller than 100 nanometers and consist of one or more crystalline arrangement of atoms in attending, or nanoparticles are crystalline in nature. Nanocrystals can be used in two way to carry active ingredients used: 1. Nanocrystals themselves are as carriers of active ingredient 2. Bioactive Nanocrystals due to environmental conditions or processing, such as pH, oxygen, light and temperature to decompose, can be covered with a protective polymer layer and transfer the active ingredient. In the first case such as nanocrystalline cellulose, chitin and starch by linking with the active ingredient act as a carrier. Various methods are used for the preparation of these nanocrystals, such as acid hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, nanosedimentation and mechanical methods such as high pressure homogenization and Pearl milling. In the second one Polymers such as hydrocolloids, poly-methacrylate and poly-lactide can be used as cover. As a result of using nanocrystals technology in the pharmaceutical industry, it can be applied to functional products such as functional drinks, food items, the target market will be the future of this technology.