Title Visible-light-based antimicrobial strategies for wheat seeds and sprouts: Comparative study of ZnO nanoparticles and a chlorophyllin–chitosan complex
Authors Aponienė, Kristina ; Buchovec, Irina ; Vasiliauskaitė, Gabrielė ; Gricajeva, Alisa ; Vitta, Pranciškus
DOI 10.1016/j.fbio.2026.108811
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Is Part of Food bioscience.. Amsterdam : Elsevier Ltd.. 2026, vol. 79, art. no. 108811, p. 1-14.. ISSN 2212-4292. eISSN 2212-4306
Keywords [eng] zinc oxide nanoparticles ; chlorophyllin–chitosan complex ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Escherichia coli ; photoinactivation ; wheat seeds and sprouts
Abstract [eng] Microbial contamination of cereal grains intended for sprouting poses a significant food safety challenge, as conventional decontamination methods often compromise seed viability and nutritional quality. This study assessed the antimicrobial efficacy and safety of two visible-light-activated systems, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and a chlorophyllin–chitosan (Chl–CHS) complex, for wheat seed decontamination. Antibacterial efficacy was tested against Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli in vitro, while antifungal effectiveness was evaluated against yeast and mold populations naturally occurring on wheat seeds. Under visible light, ZnO NPs demonstrated rapid, broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, reducing L. monocytogenes and E. coli by > 3 log10 at light doses of 22 and 30 J/cm2, respectively. The Chl–CHS complex exhibited strong photodynamic efficacy against L. monocytogenes, achieving bactericidal inactivation at a lower light dose (3 J/cm2; 10 min incubation), while E. coli required higher light exposure (45 J/cm2) and longer incubation (60 min). Fungal populations decreased by 68–75% from the original yeast and mold count of approximately 4 log CFU/g. Germination tests indicated that neither treatment negatively impacted seed viability or sprouting over a fiveday period. Total antioxidant capacity remained unchanged compared to untreated controls, indicating that the nutritional quality was preserved. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy further validated the treatments’ safety, as no increase in integrated radical signals was observed after photoactivation, unlike ionizing radiation, which produced stable free radicals. In summary, visible-light-driven antimicrobial treatments using ZnO NPs and Chl–CHS complex offer an effective, non-thermal, and seed-safe approach for enhancing the microbiological safety of wheat seeds and sprouts.
Published Amsterdam : Elsevier Ltd
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2026