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1.
Nanosilica facilitates silica uptake, growth and stress tolerance in plants.
Mathur, P, Roy, S
Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB. 2020;:114-127
Abstract
Nanobiotechnology has gained considerable momentum in the field of plant sciences in the last few years. Nanomaterials of various metal oxides has been utilized for enhancing growth, productivity and in crop protection strategies. Among them, nanosilica has emerged as a key player in orchestrating plant growth and conferring tolerance to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Nanosilica has increased absorptivity that accounts for an increased uptake of silica, although the exact mechanism is not fully understood. Nanosilica uptake in the roots and leaves reduces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane lipid peroxidation. It is known to restrict the entry of sodium ions and other heavy metals in plants. Concurrently, nanosilica deposition in the leaf tissue enhances the plant defense against pathogens. The present review attempts to provide a novel insight into its uptake mechanism and nanosilica mediated abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in plants. This review will also shed light on the prospects and challenges related to application of nanosilica based fertilizers.
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2.
Carotenoid-loaded nanocarriers: A comprehensive review.
Rehman, A, Tong, Q, Jafari, SM, Assadpour, E, Shehzad, Q, Aadil, RM, Iqbal, MW, Rashed, MMA, Mushtaq, BS, Ashraf, W
Advances in colloid and interface science. 2020;:102048
Abstract
Carotenoids retain plenty of health benefits and attracting much attention recently, but they have less resistance to processing stresses, easily oxidized and chemically unstable. Additionally, their application in food and pharmaceuticals are restricted due to some limitations such as poor bioavailability, less solubility and quick release. Nanoencapsulation techniques can be used to protect the carotenoids and to uphold their original characteristics during processing, storage and digestion, improve their physiochemical properties and enhance their health promoting effects. The importance of nanocarriers in foods and pharmaceuticals cannot be denied. This review comprehensively covers recent advances in nanoencapsulation of carotenoids with biopolymeric nanocarriers (polysaccharides and proteins), and lipid-based nanocarriers, their functionalities, aptness and innovative developments in preparation strategies. Furthermore, the present state of the art encapsulation of different carotenoids via biopolymeric and lipid-based nanocarriers have been enclosed and tabulated well. Nanoencapsulation has a vast range of applications for protection of carotenoids. Polysaccharides in combination with different proteins can offer a great avenue to achieve the desired formulation for encapsulation of carotenoids by using different nanoencapsulation strategies. In terms of lipid based nanocarriers, solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructure lipid carriers are proving as the encouraging candidates for entrapment of carotenoids. Additionally, nanoliposomes and nanoemulsion are also promising and novel-vehicles for the protection of carotenoids against challenging aspects as well as offering an effectual controlled release on the targeted sites. In the future, further studies could be conducted for exploring the application of nanoencapsulated systems in food and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) for industrial applications.
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3.
Engineering functional inorganic nanobiomaterials: controlling interactions between 2D-nanosheets and enzymes.
Puglia, MK, Malhotra, M, Kumar, CV
Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003). 2020;(13):3917-3933
Abstract
A better understanding of the enzyme-nanosheet interface is imperative for the design of functional, robust inorganic nanobiomaterials and biodevices, now more than ever, for use in a broad spectrum of applications. This feature article discusses recent advances in controlling the enzyme-nanosheet interface with regards to α-zirconium(iv) phosphate (α-ZrP), graphene oxide (GO), graphene, and MoS2 nanosheets. Specific focus will be placed on understanding the mechanisms with which these materials interact with enzymes and elaborate on particular ways to engineer and control these interactions. Our main discoveries include: (1) upon adsorption to the nanosheet surface, a decrease in the entropy of the enzyme's denatured state enhances stability; (2) proteins are used to create biophilic landing pads for increased enzyme stability on many different types of nanosheets; (3) proteins and enzymes are used as exfoliants by shear force to produce biofunctionalized nanosheet suspensions; and (4) bionfunctionalized nanosheets exhibit no acute toxicity. Recognizing proper methods to engineer the interface between enzymes and 2D-nanosheets, therefore, is an important step towards making green, sustainable, and environmentally conscious inorganic bionanomaterials for sensing, catalysis and drug delivery applications, as well as towards the successful manipulation of enzymes for advanced applications.
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4.
Recent advances in the application of mesoporous silica-based nanomaterials for bone tissue engineering.
Eivazzadeh-Keihan, R, Chenab, KK, Taheri-Ledari, R, Mosafer, J, Hashemi, SM, Mokhtarzadeh, A, Maleki, A, Hamblin, MR
Materials science & engineering. C, Materials for biological applications. 2020;:110267
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Abstract
Silica nanomaterials (SNMs) and their composites have recently been investigated as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. SNM scaffolds possess the ability to encourage bone cell growth and also allow the simultaneous delivery of biologically active biomolecules that are encapsulated in the mesopores. Their high mechanical strength, low cytotoxicity, ability to stimulate both the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of progenitor cells make the SNMs appropriate scaffolds. Their physiochemical properties facilitate the cell spreading process, allow easy access to nutrients and help the cell-cell communication process during bone tissue engineering. The ability to deliver small biomolecules, such as dexamethasone, different growth factors, vitamins and mineral ions depends on the morphology, porosity, and crystallinity of SNMs and their composites with other polymeric materials. In this review, the abilities of SNMs to perform as suitable scaffolds for bone tissue engineering are comprehensively discussed.
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5.
Nanozymes: created by learning from nature.
Zhang, R, Fan, K, Yan, X
Science China. Life sciences. 2020;(8):1183-1200
Abstract
Nanozymes, a type of nanomaterials with enzyme-like activity, have shown great potential to replace natural enzymes in many fields such as biochemical detection, environmental management and disease treatment. However, the catalytic efficiency and substrate specificity of nanozymes still need improvement. To further optimize the enzymatic properties of nanozymes, recent studies have introduced the structural characteristics of natural enzymes into the rational design of nanozymes, either by employing small molecules to mimic the cofactors of natural enzymes to boost nanozymes' catalytic potential, or by simulating the active center of natural enzymes to construct the nanostructure of nanozymes. This review introduces the commonly used bio-inspired strategies to create nanozymes, aiming at clarifying the current progress and bottlenecks. Advances and challenges focusing on the research of bio-inspired nanozymes are outlined to provide ideas for the de novo design of ideal nanozymes.
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6.
Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics of Vitamin E: Nanoformulations to Enhance Bioavailability.
Mohd Zaffarin, AS, Ng, SF, Ng, MH, Hassan, H, Alias, E
International journal of nanomedicine. 2020;:9961-9974
Abstract
Vitamin E belongs to the family of lipid-soluble vitamins and can be divided into two groups, tocopherols and tocotrienols, with four isomers (alpha, beta, gamma and delta). Although vitamin E is widely known as a potent antioxidant, studies have also revealed that vitamin E possesses anti-inflammatory properties. These crucial properties of vitamin E are beneficial in various aspects of health, especially in neuroprotection and cardiovascular, skin and bone health. However, the poor bioavailability of vitamin E, especially tocotrienols, remains a great limitation for clinical applications. Recently, nanoformulations that include nanovesicles, solid-lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, and polymeric nanoparticles have shown promising outcomes in improving the efficacy and bioavailability of vitamin E. This review focuses on the pharmacological properties and pharmacokinetics of vitamin E and current advances in vitamin E nanoformulations for future clinical applications. The limitations and future recommendations are also discussed in this review.
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7.
Targeting non-apoptotic cell death in cancer treatment by nanomaterials: Recent advances and future outlook.
Sepand, MR, Ranjbar, S, Kempson, IM, Akbariani, M, Muganda, WCA, Müller, M, Ghahremani, MH, Raoufi, M
Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine. 2020;:102243
Abstract
Many tumors develop resistance to most of the apoptosis-based cancer therapies. In this sense targeting non-apoptotic forms of cell death including necroptosis, autophagy and ferroptosis may have therapeutic benefits in apoptosis-defective cancer cells. Nanomaterials have shown great advantages in cancer treatment owing to their unique characteristics. Besides, the capability of nanomaterials to induce different forms of cell death has gained widespread attention in cancer treatment. Reports in this field reflect the therapeutic potential of necroptotic cell death induced by nanomaterials in cancer. Also, autophagic cell death induced by nanomaterials alone and as a part of chemo-, radio- and photothermal therapy holds great promise as anticancer therapeutic option. Besides, ferroptosis induction by iron-based nanomaterials in drug delivery, immunotherapy, hyperthermia and imaging systems shows promising results in malignancies. Hence, this review is devoted to the latest efforts and the challenges in this field of research and its clinical merits.
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8.
Current Trends in the Application of Nanomaterials for the Removal of Emerging Micropollutants and Pathogens from Water.
Kokkinos, P, Mantzavinos, D, Venieri, D
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2020;(9)
Abstract
Water resources contamination has a worldwide impact and is a cause of global concern. The need for provision of clean water is becoming more and more demanding. Nanotechnology may support effective strategies for the treatment, use and reuse of water and the development of next-generation water supply systems. The excellent properties and effectiveness of nanomaterials make them particularly suitable for water/wastewater treatment. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the main categories of nanomaterials used in catalytic processes (carbon nanotubes/graphitic carbon nitride (CNT/g-C3N4) composites/graphene-based composites, metal oxides and composites, metal-organic framework and commercially available nanomaterials). These materials have found application in the removal of different categories of pollutants, including pharmaceutically active compounds, personal care products, organic micropollutants, as well as for the disinfection of bacterial, viral and protozoa microbial targets, in water and wastewater matrices. Apart from reviewing the characteristics and efficacy of the aforementioned nanoengineered materials for the removal of different pollutants, we have also recorded performance limitations issues (e.g., toxicity, operating conditions and reuse) for their practical application in water and wastewater treatment on large scale. Research efforts and continuous production are expected to support the development of eco-friendly, economic and efficient nanomaterials for real life applications in the near future.
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Recent Advances in Zinc Oxide Nanostructures with Antimicrobial Activities.
Li, Y, Liao, C, Tjong, SC
International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;(22)
Abstract
This article reviews the recent developments in the synthesis, antibacterial activity, and visible-light photocatalytic bacterial inactivation of nano-zinc oxide. Polycrystalline wurtzite ZnO nanostructures with a hexagonal lattice having different shapes can be synthesized by means of vapor-, liquid-, and solid-phase processing techniques. Among these, ZnO hierarchical nanostructures prepared from the liquid phase route are commonly used for antimicrobial activity. In particular, plant extract-mediated biosynthesis is a single step process for preparing nano-ZnO without using surfactants and toxic chemicals. The phytochemical molecules of natural plant extracts are attractive agents for reducing and stabilizing zinc ions of zinc salt precursors to form green ZnO nanostructures. The peel extracts of certain citrus fruits like grapefruits, lemons and oranges, acting as excellent chelating agents for zinc ions. Furthermore, phytochemicals of the plant extracts capped on ZnO nanomaterials are very effective for killing various bacterial strains, leading to low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values. Bioactive phytocompounds from green ZnO also inhibit hemolysis of Staphylococcus aureus infected red blood cells and inflammatory activity of mammalian immune system. In general, three mechanisms have been adopted to explain bactericidal activity of ZnO nanomaterials, including direct contact killing, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and released zinc ion inactivation. These toxic effects lead to the destruction of bacterial membrane, denaturation of enzyme, inhibition of cellular respiration and deoxyribonucleic acid replication, causing leakage of the cytoplasmic content and eventual cell death. Meanwhile, antimicrobial activity of doped and modified ZnO nanomaterials under visible light can be attributed to photogeneration of ROS on their surfaces. Thus particular attention is paid to the design and synthesis of visible light-activated ZnO photocatalysts with antibacterial properties.
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10.
Electron Transfer from Semiconductor Nanocrystals to Redox Enzymes.
Utterback, JK, Ruzicka, JL, Keller, HR, Pellows, LM, Dukovic, G
Annual review of physical chemistry. 2020;:335-359
Abstract
This review summarizes progress in understanding electron transfer from photoexcited nanocrystals to redox enzymes. The combination of the light-harvesting properties of nanocrystals and the catalytic properties of redox enzymes has emerged as a versatile platform to drive a variety of enzyme-catalyzed reactions with light. Transfer of a photoexcited charge from a nanocrystal to an enzyme is a critical first step for these reactions. This process has been studied in depth in systems that combine Cd-chalcogenide nanocrystals with hydrogenases. The two components can be assembled in close proximity to enable direct interfacial electron transfer or integrated with redox mediators to transport charges. Time-resolved spectroscopy and kinetic modeling have been used to measure the rates and efficiencies of the electron transfer. Electron transfer has been described within the framework of Marcus theory, providing insights into the factors that can be used to control the photochemical activity of these biohybrid systems. The range of potential applications and reactions that can be achieved using nanocrystal-enzyme systems is expanding, and numerous fundamental and practical questions remain to be addressed.