Introduction
The poultry industry plays a crucial role in meeting the world’s growing demand for animal-based protein amid rising populations, environmental challenges, and the need for sustainable food production. Traditional methods of improving poultry production — such as genetic selection, diet formulation, and pharmaceutical additives — have contributed significantly to industry growth. However, new technologies are sought to boost efficiency, health, and environmental sustainability even further.
Nanotechnology, the science of manipulating materials at the nanometer scale (1–100 nm), is emerging as a promising tool in this arena. At this scale, materials exhibit novel biological, physical, and chemical properties that can be harnessed to improve nutrient delivery, immune function, antimicrobial activity, and diagnostic precision in poultry nutrition and health management.
This article provides a detailed review of the current state of nanotechnology applications in poultry nutrition, the mechanisms through which nanoparticles operate, their benefits, risks, and potential future directions for research and industry implementation.
Understanding Nanotechnology in Poultry Nutrition
At its core, nanotechnology involves engineering materials at extremely small scales where unique properties such as increased surface area, enhanced reactivity, and improved absorption emerge. In poultry nutrition, these features can be applied to:
- Improve bioavailability of nutrients and micronutrients.
- Enhance digestive efficiency and metabolism.
- Modulate the immune system and gut health.
- Act as antimicrobials against pathogens.
- Serve as biosensors for detecting contaminants.
- Enable targeted delivery of compounds to specific tissues or organs.
Unlike in human food systems — where consumer acceptance of nanoparticles in food remains limited — animal nutrition and feed technologies are less constrained by consumer perception, offering a unique opportunity to apply nanotechnologies for animal health and production benefits.
Mechanisms of Nanoparticles in Poultry
Absorption and Distribution
When nanoparticles are ingested or inhaled by poultry, they can pass through the digestive tract and be absorbed into the bloodstream. Their small size allows them to easily traverse intestinal cells, enter circulation, and reach target organs such as the liver and spleen. Particles <100 nm can reach tissues, while those <300 nm can circulate throughout the body.
Once internalized, nanoparticles can facilitate:
- Improved transport of nutrients and bioactive compounds.
- Enhanced cellular uptake of encapsulated substances.
- Reduced antagonistic interactions between minerals and other dietary components.
- Improved targeted delivery of drugs, growth promoters, and vaccines.
Types of Nanoparticles and Their Roles
Nanoparticles are diverse and can be categorized based on their composition and functional properties:
- Polymer Nanoparticles
Polymer-based nanoparticles — often made from materials such as polyethylene glycol or polysaccharides like chitosan — can encapsulate vitamins, drugs, or other bioactive compounds. This encapsulation protects active ingredients from degradation during digestion and enables controlled release at target sites.
- Nanoliposomes
These are spherical particles formed by lipid bilayers that trap hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances. Nanoliposomes can improve the delivery of nutrients and therapeutic agents, and even help in immunization strategies against viral diseases such as Newcastle disease by facilitating targeted delivery of antigens.
- Lipid Nanoparticles
These include solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers. Their lipid nature enhances the stability of encapsulated nutrients and promotes efficient absorption. They also facilitate the delivery of fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and bioactive plant compounds.
- Nanoemulsions
Nanoemulsions consist of tiny droplets of oil and water stabilized by surfactants. They improve solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble nutrients and exhibit bactericidal and virucidal properties, making them useful for pathogen control in feed.
- Metallic and Inorganic Nanoparticles
These include nanoparticles of metals such as zinc oxide, selenium, copper, manganese, and silver. Due to their physicochemical properties, they can enhance immune responses, improve catalytic activity in metabolic processes, and exert antimicrobial effects.
- Quantum Dots and Nanotubes
Quantum dots and similar nanostructures can serve in biosensing applications to detect pathogens or trace molecules, aiding in early disease detection and food safety monitoring.
Nanotechnology in Feed Additives
One of the most significant applications of nanotechnology in poultry is the development of nano-feed additives — nutrient or non-nutrient ingredients engineered at the nanoscale to improve their function and effectiveness.
Enhancing Bioavailability
Nanoparticles improve the solubility, stability, and absorption of nutrients that otherwise have low bioavailability. For example:
- Water-insoluble vitamins and carotenoids become more easily absorbed when nano-encapsulated.
- Minerals like zinc and selenium in nano form show higher retention in tissues and reduced excretion, enhancing efficiency.
This improved bioavailability can lead to:
- Better growth performance.
- Higher egg quality and production.
- Enhanced immune status.
- Reduced feed costs due to more efficient nutrient usage.
Microbiome and Gut Health
Nanoparticles can influence gut microflora by:
- Reducing harmful bacteria (e.g., Campylobacter), improving food safety.
- Increasing beneficial bacteria, which enhances nutrient digestion and overall bird health.
Immune Modulation
By interacting with immune cells and improving gut integrity (such as increasing the number of goblet cells that secrete protective mucus), nanoparticles can strengthen the immune system. This can reduce the need for antibiotics and improve resistance to common diseases.
Practical Outcomes from Studies
A range of studies reviewed in the article highlight the positive effects of specific nano-mineral supplements:
- Nano Zinc Oxide: Improved growth performance, feed conversion, and immune parameters in broilers; increased egg shell quality in laying hens.
- Nano Selenium: Enhanced antioxidant status, growth performance, and selenium absorption compared to traditional sources.
- Nano Manganese: Improved enzyme activity and antioxidant function, critical for metabolic processes.
- Nano Copper: Showed beneficial effects on aminopeptidase activity, gut microflora balance, and meat quality indices.
- Nano Silver: Exhibited antimicrobial properties, modulating gut microbes and improving immune response.
Additionally, nanoparticles of calcium and phosphorus demonstrated improved bone quality and reduced environmental waste by enhancing dietary utilization.
Benefits of Nanotechnology in Poultry
The review highlights multiple potential benefits:
- Enhanced Nutrient Utilization
Improved digestion and absorption of vitamins, minerals, and bioactives lead to better growth and performance.
- Improved Feed Efficiency
More efficient nutrient use reduces the overall feed demand and lowers production costs.
- Health and Immune Performance
Nanoparticles can strengthen immune responses, reduce disease incidence, and reduce reliance on antibiotics.
- Environmental Impacts
With better nutrient retention and reduced excretion of minerals like phosphorus and nitrogen, nanotechnology can help mitigate environmental pollution.
- Food Safety and Pathogen Control
Nano-based biosensors and antimicrobial agents can detect and control harmful microbes in feed and poultry environments.
Potential Risks and Challenges
Despite its promise, nanotechnology also presents concerns:
- Biological and Toxicological Risks
Nanoparticles can interact with cells in unpredictable ways, potentially penetrating cellular DNA or stimulating oxidative stress. Their small size increases biological interaction but also raises safety concerns that must be evaluated thoroughly.
- Regulatory and Ethical Considerations
Regulatory agencies such as the FAO, WHO, US FDA, EU REACH, and others are actively developing guidelines for nanomaterial use in agriculture and food systems. These frameworks are crucial to ensure safe application and consumer confidence.
- Need for Standardization and Research
More research is needed to:
- Determine safe and optimal dosing strategies.
- Understand long-term effects on poultry health and welfare.
- Evaluate environmental impacts of nanoparticle release.
Future Perspectives
Nanotechnology holds great promise as a transformative tool in poultry nutrition and health management. Future research directions include:
- Developing targeted nano-delivery systems for vaccines and therapeutics.
- Integrating biosensors for real-time health monitoring.
- Conducting long-term toxicological assessments to ensure safety.
- Creating regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with health and environmental protection.
The authors emphasize that while many applications show positive preliminary results, careful, scientifically backed implementation paired with ongoing research is essential to harness nanotechnology’s full potential safely and effectively.
Conclusion
Nanotechnology offers exciting opportunities to revolutionize poultry nutrition by enhancing nutrient bioavailability, improving health markers, reducing disease, and increasing production efficiency. However, its success depends on rigorous scientific validation, regulatory oversight, and responsible application.
As the poultry sector continues to grow to meet global food demand, nanotechnology could be a key enabler of future sustainability and animal health — provided its use is guided by evidence, safety, and ethical considerations.
Article Source
Hosseintabar-Ghasemabad, B., Ondrašovičová, S., Kvan, O. V., et al. (2025). Applications and impacts of nanotechnology in poultry nutrition. Discover Applied Sciences 7, 938. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07254-0
