Evaluating Efficacy of ZnO and MgO Nanoparticles on Post-Harvested Rice to Enhance Food Security Against Agroterrorism
Received date: 2025-02-12
Accepted date: 2025-04-22
Online published: 2025-04-25
Assessing the resilience of rice varieties against bioterrorism agents is critical to safeguarding food security. This study evaluated Food and Drug Administration-approved and recognized as safe metallic oxide nanoparticles (NPs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) as protective strategies to reduce susceptibility in imported rice varieties to a biothreat model, Escherichia coli. Two types of rice (brown and white) from four countries (USA, Mexico, India, and Thailand) were treated with 60 mg/L NPs or their ionic forms and sterilized before inoculation. The treatments were analyzed for nutritional profiles, heavy metal content, and pathogen susceptibility. Rice organic compositions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and metal were contents quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Pathogenic response was monitored using ultraviolet mass spectrophotometry. The findings revealed that nutrient-rich varieties like brown rice from Mexico displayed reduced susceptibility to E. coli compared with white rice from India, which showed the highest susceptibility. NP fortification demonstrated significant antimicrobial efficacy, particularly with ZnO and MgO NPs, which were more effective than their ionic counterparts in inhibiting bacterial growth. Results showed that ZnO and MgO NP treatments reduced E. coli growth by 72% and 68%, respectively, compared with untreated controls. Brown rice from Mexican treated with MgO NPs exhibited the lowest optical density at 600 nm (OD600 0.01), indicating significantly enhanced resistance to bacterial proliferation. This research underscores the potential of nano-fortification not only to improve pathogen resilience in rice but also to maintain its nutritional integrity. This study provides a foundational framework for enhancing food safety against bioterrorism agents and supports the development of resilient agricultural practices.
Key words： bioterrorism; Escherichia coli; food safety; MgO; nanoparticle post-harvest; rice; ZnO
Daisy Wilson, Valeria Gonzalez, Hamidreza Sharifan . Evaluating Efficacy of ZnO and MgO Nanoparticles on Post-Harvested Rice to Enhance Food Security Against Agroterrorism[J]. Rice Science, 2025 , 32(5) : 717 -726 . DOI: 10.1016/j.rsci.2025.04.012
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