The rising age and longevity of the population have led to the implementation of primary arthroplasties worldwide. A consequence of this treatment is often represented by the occurrence of some infections, depending upon the type of bacteria involved and whether the infection is acute or chronic [65].

Over the years, to avoid bacterial infections, different biomaterials have been designed and engineered to ensure antibacterial protection. In this context, halloysite is an emerging filler that can be successfully used.

Lvov et al. (2012) investigated the possibility of using HNTs as a filler for poly-(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which has long been used as bone cement. To avoid bacterial infections, the researchers loaded HNTs with gentamicin, obtaining, after inclusion in the polymeric matrix, a nanocomposite with good mechanical strength and sustained release of the active ingredient [66]. Antibacterial tests highlighted that the gentamicin release inhibited the bacterial growth of E. coli and S. aureus, which were chosen as models.

A 3D-printed poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) filled with HNTs and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocomposite was fabricated by Riool et al. to release gentamicin sulfate (GS) when used as a coating for weight-bearing materials [67]. Specifically, the nanocomposite was obtained by mixing PCL, HNTs, HA, and GS, and the obtained mixture was subjected to fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing technology to obtain a nanomaterial in the shape of a bone fixation plate. The nanocomposite obtained was intended to be applied to replace a mouse femur. The implant obtained was tested in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experiments to study its antimicrobial efficacy. The experimental results highlighted the potentiality of this scaffold, which in the future can serve to produce load-bearing implantable devices with specific drug release properties.

Nowadays, it is estimated that about 3.5 billion people worldwide suffer from oral diseases [68]. Often, to address this, it is necessary to resort to some dental implants and replacement procedures that, similarly to the orthopedic ones, are affected by bacterial infections.

In this context, Bottino et al. developed an injectable chlorhexidine (CHX)-loaded HNTs-modified GelMA hydrogel for dental infection ablation. GelMA is a photocrosslinkable gelatin methacryloyl [69], a polymer often used in regenerative engineering because of its good cell−tissue affinity and degradability in the presence of matrix metalloproteinases. The good antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite was tested on different pathogens associated with secondary endodontic infection. In addition, an in vivo test on stem cells from human-exfoliated deciduous teeth and the study of an inflammatory response using a subcutaneous rat model revealed good cytocompatibility with the hydrogel.

Similarly, chlorhexidine was loaded into HNTs, and the obtained nanomaterials were used as fillers for a dental resin [70]. The experimental findings show that the incorporation of different percentages of filler in the resin produced a nanocomposite with enhanced mechanical properties. In addition, it shows a slight decrease in curing depth and degree of conversion values, which are indicative of its durability. Biological assays showed no cytotoxicity on NIH-3T3 cell lines, and most importantly, antibacterial test on a strain of Streptococcus mutans highlighted the good antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposite.

Wound healing is a very complex process that occurs in subsequent or overlapped phases, involves a series of events, and requires the intervention of various mediators. Chronic skin wounds are lesions that fail to restore the skin’s anatomical and functional integrity, resulting in ulcers that take several years to heal. One of the most important issues that impairs the wound healing process is, of course, the occurrence of bacterial infections.

In this context, terpenoids structurally similar to carvacrol were loaded into HNTs, resulting in nanomaterials that performed well in cell-based scratch assays with a HaCaT cell monolayer on an in vitro artificial wound model for re-epithelialization and wound healing. In addition, the antimicrobial effects of the nanomaterials on the common pathogens that frequently colonize chronic wounds were also evaluated. The results of the experiments revealed promising antibacterial activity against four different Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, namely S. aureus ATCC 43300, S. aureus ATCC 29213, S. epidermidis ATCC 35984, and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 [71].

Polymyxin B sulfate loaded on HNTs was used as filler for gelatin-based elastomers previously loaded with ciprofloxacin. As a result, a potentially useful biomaterial for wound dressing was obtained [18]. To validate the potentiality of the nanocomposite as antimicrobial agent, its antibacterial effects were studied on two different strains, S. aureus (Gram-positive) and P. aeruginosa (Gram-negative), commonly known to infect wounds, by evaluating the presence of inhibition zones around the bacterial discs. The experimental results showed good antimicrobial performance for at least 7 days, thanks to the slow release of both drugs from the nanocomposite.

AuNPs encapsulated in HNT lumen were used to confer both photothermal and antimicrobial properties to chitin-based hydrogels for wound healing applications [72]. The nanocomposite hydrogels possessed high cytocompatibility on mouse fibroblasts, and, by in vitro antibacterial experiments, it was demonstrated that, because of the photothermal properties, they showed high antibacterial ability towards E. coli and S. aureus. In addition, the chitin-based hydrogel showed the peculiarity of possessing high hemostatic performance in mouse liver and tail bleeding. In in vivo experiments, the researchers showed that wound infection healing results confirmed the healing-promoting effect of the hydrogel material.

Nowadays, food spoilage due to microbial contamination represents a significant problem, which every year causes enormous economic loss. It is estimated that, in the United States alone, the wastefulness of food accounts for ca. 30–40% of the total food supply. Therefore, to prevent bacterial contamination, biofilms with antimicrobial properties should be prepared for active food packaging applications [73]. Among the different antimicrobial agents that have been used for this purpose, essential oils are the most-employed. Most of them have indeed been classified as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and, in addition, they have been long been used as flavoring agents. However, they are highly flavoring, show high volatility, and show the tendency to be oxidized, and thus it is necessary to develop efficient carrier systems for their practical utilization.

In this context, thyme essential oil was loaded into HNTs, and then the nanomaterial obtained was mixed with flexographic ink and coated on paper for applications as food packaging materials [74].

Antimicrobial experiments on E. coli, for a 25-day treatment showed that the packaging paper filled with HNTs/TO nanomaterial, possessed a strong antimicrobial effect in the first 10 days. In particular, the packaging paper resulted in very high efficiency and was especially effective in eradicating E. coli within the initial 5 days, with the bacterial count reduced to ~1.5 log CFU cm⁻².

Similarly, Gorrasi et al. [75] used rosemary essential oil loaded in HNTs as a filler for pectin matrix, while peppermint essential oil was loaded on cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6])-modified HNTs [76]. In this case, the HNTs/CB[6] nanomaterial was mixed by an optimized casting process into pectin, obtaining a nanocomposite with superior antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposite was evaluated on E. coli and S. aureus, isolated from beef and cow milk, respectively, at three different temperatures. It was found that the percentage of bacterial viability for both bacterial strains was reduced at 65 °C compared to those at 37 °C and 4 °C. Of note, only 15% of the E. coli survived after the treatment at 65 °C.

Following the same approach, grapefruit seed oil was encapsulated into HNTs’ lumen and then dispersed in a pectin matrix, obtaining a nanocomposite that was effective in the protection of fruits [77]. The researchers, indeed, coated fresh strawberries with the film developed and stored them for 10 days at room temperature RH = 60%. The nanocomposite films prevented mold formation, extending the storage time of such fruit, in contrast to the uncoated strawberry, which showed mold after two days with a wrinkled and damaged appearance.

One of the most-used chemical species active in food packaging is represented by ZnO nanoparticles. It is indeed registered by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (FDA, 2011) on the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) list. Therefore, over the years, when the utilization of HNTs as filler for active food packaging applications is concerned, several efforts have been made to develop innovative nanomaterials/nanocomposites with ZnO.

In 2015, Pasbakhsh et al. reported the deposition of ZnO on HNTs to obtain a filler for poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films [78]. The nanocomposite obtained showed enhanced mechanical properties in comparison to the neat polymer, and most importantly, it possessed exceptional antimicrobial activities against E. coli and S. aureus.

Similarly, ZnO@HNTs nanomaterials with a nominal wt% ratio of ZnO to halloysite equal to 4 as filler for chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVOH) matrices were obtained [79]. The films were tested for their antimicrobial efficacy against four common food pathogenic bacteria, namely E. coli, S. enterica, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus. To prove the biological activity, two different parameters were evaluated: the inhibitory activity, by measuring the diameter of the clear inhibition zone, and the bacterial growth inhibition. Both experiments showed enhanced antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite in comparison to chitosan.

Acid-treated HNTs were used as nanocontainers for cinnamaldehyde and as filler in alginate film [80]. The use of HNTs was helpful in slowing down the release of the active ingredient from the film. Kinetic release experiments, using isooctane as the release medium, to simulate fatty foods, showed that after 72 h, the filler containing HNTs still retained about 60 wt% of the total amount of cinnamaldehyde loaded. Antimicrobial tests highlighted the usefulness of HNTs in the nanocomposite; indeed, the hybrid nanocomposite demonstrated prolonged antimicrobial action on E. coli and S. aureus for at least four and five days more, respectively, in comparison to cinnamaldehyde simply dispersed in the alginate.

Similarly, using layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technology [81], HNTs loaded with cinnamaldehyde were further functionalized with positively charged poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and negatively charged poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS). The goal of this kind of functionalization was to cloak the tubes with end-stoppers to avoid the fast release of the active ingredients. The researchers demonstrated that cinnamaldehyde was selectively released at a low pH value; therefore, the nanomaterial could be used to develop smart packaging for food protection. To prove this hypothesis, some antimicrobial tests on S. aureus and a pilot study of packed fresh wheat noodles with the developed nanomaterial were performed. It was demonstrated that the HNT-based nanomaterial showed good fumigant antimicrobial activity, and the total plate count, study of pH and color change, and environmental SEM characterization of the treated noodles highlighted that it can be effectively used to extend the shelf-life of fresh wheat noodles.

Recently, to solve the problems arising from the low water solubility and high volatility of some antimicrobial agents, an innovative strategy was adopted based on Pickering emulsion. In this context, properly modified HNTs were used to prepare emulsions based on cassia oil, selected as the oil phase [82]. To render the external surface of halloysite hydrophobic, and therefore to obtain stable emulsions, HNTs were firstly subjected to ball milling in a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) jar. During the process, PTFE was transferred from the milling jar walls to HNTs surface, changing its hydrophilicity and electrical properties. Finally, the obtained nanomaterials were used as solid particles on the oil−water interface for preparing Pickering emulsions. Antibacterial experiments showed that the use of hydrophobic HNTs as an emulsifier of cassia oil enhanced its antibacterial properties towards S. aureus and E. coli. Bacterial growth kinetics experiments and live/dead bacterial viability assays further confirmed the improved biological properties of the nanoemulsions and showed that cassia oil is slowly released from the HNTs. The results obtained in the present work open the doorway to the use of HNTs as emulsifiers for the preparation of Pickering emulsions for future applications in food protection.

Population growth has necessitated increased food production, which has been hampered by climate change and agricultural crop pests, to name a few. Up until now, pest control has been a fundamental part of good manufacturing practice in food processing from an economic, hygienic, and regulatory viewpoint. Therefore, the development of systems capable of being carriers and gradually releasing the pesticides is crucial to reducing both their environmental impact and ensuring pest protection over time. In this context, halloysite, which has shown excellent eco-compatibility [83,84,85], represents an inexpensive carrier for several pesticides.

Acid-treated HNTs were used as carrier for chlorpyrifos (CPF), a hydrophobic pesticide, followed by the coating of the tubes with alginate gels, used to slow down the release of the CPF from the tubes. To increase the loading of the active ingredient, a three-dimensional structure involving the acid-treated HNTs was also created via a step-by-step modification of the HNTs’ surface with Ca²⁺ and EDTA²⁻, exploiting their strong coordination interactions [86].

In addition to the increase in loading efficiency and slow release of CPF, the synthesized nanopesticide, because of the strong interaction of alginate with plant leaves, shows a foliar adhesion property against rain rinsing that is strengthened by 86% in comparison to pristine CPF, thus reducing the overall environmental impact.

Similarly, CPF was loaded onto modified HNTs to develop a novel pesticide for the control of the growth of beet armyworm (which grows fastest at 35 °C) [87]. The modification of HNTs was achieved by the grafting of a thermo-responsive polymer, poly-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAM), followed by a polydopamine coating that was used to avoid fast release of CPF. The nanomaterial showed excellent thermosensitive release performance, with an average release rate of CPF at 35 °C ca. 2.5 times higher than that at 25 °C.

An emulsion of chlorantraniliprole (CAP) in xylene was added to an aqueous HNTs dispersion, forming a three-dimensional network structure that showed increased leaf adhesion, rain erosion resistance, and insecticidal effect in comparison to “free” CAP [88]. To test the insecticidal activity of the synthesized system, S. frugiperda was selected as a pest model. The experimental results showed an increased mortality in the presence of the HNTs based emulsion, indicating that the system is promising for future applications.

The loading of pyrethrum extract into HNTs’ lumen led to the synthesis of nanopesticides where, because of the presence of HNTs, the active ingredients are protected from UV light and slowly released over time. In addition, in vivo tests on two different insects, G. mellonella and T. molitor, chosen as pest models, showed that the nanomaterial was highly active on the first one at a half dose compared to a commercial pesticide [89].