Thai Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Smart Tannin Nanoparticles: A Novel Approach to Overcome Rumen Anti-Nutritional Barriers in Ruminant Nutrition

2025-11-09T21:51:19+07:00

Ruminant livestock production in semi-arid regions faces persistent challenges, including seasonal feed shortages, variable nutrient quality, and environmental issues such as methane emissions. These constraints impact animal productivity, health, and sustainability. Tannins, a group of plant-derived polyphenols, have garnered attention for their potential to improve protein utilization and reduce enteric methane emissions. However, at high concentrations, tannins exert anti-nutritional effects—reducing feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and altering rumen microbial balance—thus limiting their practical utility in ruminant diets. Recent advancements in nanotechnology offer an innovative strategy to address these limitations through the formulation of tannin nanoparticles. These smart delivery systems enhance the bioavailability, stability, and targeted release of tannins in the gastrointestinal tract, enabling controlled interactions with rumen microbes and dietary macromolecules. This review explores the current state of knowledge regarding the dualistic role of tannins, the principles and safety of nanotechnology in animal feed, and the comparative impacts of conventional tannins and nano-tannin applications on rumen fermentation, methane mitigation, nutrient metabolism, and animal performance. While tannin nanoparticles show promise in improving ruminant nutrition and environmental sustainability, several research gaps remain. These include the need for standardized nanoparticle formulations, comprehensive long-term safety evaluations, and clear regulatory frameworks for their use in livestock systems. Addressing these challenges is crucial for enabling the responsible and effective integration of nanotechnology into future ruminant feeding strategies, particularly in resource-limited and climate-vulnerable regions.

Value-Added of Sweet Orange Peel Waste into TiO2 Nanoparticles via Green Synthesis for Antibacterial Applications

2025-12-09T11:49:08+07:00

This research focuses on the TiO₂ nanoparticles synthesized via a green chemistry approach using extracts from sweet orange, (Citrus sinensis) peels. The quality of the synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles was enhanced through an annealing process at 350°C for 6 hours. It was found that this thermal treatment significantly improved the particle quality. The antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles was investigated at concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mg/mL in deionized water using the disc diffusion technique against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were used as representative strains for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. The results indicated that the TiO₂ at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL exhibited the most effective antibacterial performance against both types of bacteria.

The Influence of Glycerol on Preparing Tapioca/TiO2 Bionanocomposite Films

2025-12-27T22:05:23+07:00

This study focuses on the preparation of bionanocomposite films incorporating TiO₂ nanoparticles synthesized through a green chemistry approach using extracts from sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) peels. Tapioca starch was used as the biopolymer matrix, while TiO₂ nanoparticles served as the dispersed phase. The films were fabricated with varying glycerol-to-starch ratios (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) to determine the optimal formulation. Among these, the film containing 75% glycerol exhibited the most desirable mechanical and physical properties. The obtained films were subsequently characterized for their physical properties, water wettability via contact angle measurements, antibacterial activity using the disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and biodegradability under sunlight exposure.

Nanosized Natural Minerals as Sustainable Fillers for Near-Infrared Shielding Coatings: Comparative Study of Rutile, Leucoxene, Ilmenite, and Hydroilmenite

2025-12-30T09:24:14+07:00

This study investigates nanosized Thai natural minerals rutile, leucoxene, ilmenite, and hydroilmenite as sustainable fillers for near-infrared (NIR) shielding coatings. The minerals, mainly composed of TiO₂, were processed by high-energy ball milling without chemical additives. The resulting natural mineral nanopowders were subsequently dispersed into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and applied as thin film coatings. and incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coatings. The optical and thermal performance was found to be highly dependent on the resulting particle size and elemental composition. Specifically, the TiO₂-rich rutile and leucoxene coatings primarily enhanced IR reflection, whereas the iron-rich of ilmenite and hydroilmenite coatings significantly improved NIR absorption. Critically, the ilmenite coating achieved optimal thermal performance, resulting in a maximum reduction of the model house interior temperature by 3 °C compared to the unmodified PVA film. These findings confirm the feasibility of utilizing locally sourced, processed natural minerals as cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic nanomaterials, demonstrating a promising pathway for developing high-performance, energy-saving coatings.