Figure 4 shows an example of how nanolaminates could encase food objects. The object to be coated with a nanolaminate would be dipped into a series of solutions containing substances that would adsorb to the surface of the object (McClements and others 2005). Alternatively, the solutions containing the adsorbing substances could be sprayed onto the surface of the object. The composition, thickness, structure, and properties of the multilayered laminate formed around the object could be controlled in a number of ways, including (i) changing the type of adsorbing substances in the dipping solutions; (ii) changing the total number of dipping steps used; (iii) changing the order that the object is introduced into the various dipping solutions; or (iv) changing the solution and environmental conditions used, such as pH, ionic strength, dielectric constant, temperature, and so on. The driving force for adsorption of a substance to a surface would depend on the nature of the surface and the nature of the adsorbing substance. The force itself could be electrostatic, hydrogen-bonding, hydrophobic interactive, thermodynamically incompatible, and so on, but it would usually be electrostatic attraction of oppositely charged substances. The influence of the properties of the substrate surface—such as topology and roughness on the structure of the nanolaminates that are built on the substrate surface—has not yet been established. It is possible that nonuniform laminates could be formed that contain microscopic and macroscopic pores that could negate the barrier function of the laminate. Consequently, this would necessitate the formation of a second base biopolymer layer on the food product to form a more uniform substrate surface, followed by deposition of the layer containing the functional ingredient.