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Slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) play an essential and necessary role in sustainable agriculture. Using slow-release and environment friendly fertilizers can increase the growth of plants and reduce the loss of nutrients. Considering the deficiency of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in calcareous soils, a slow-release fertilizer was prepared based on the polymeric nanocomposite, which contains NPK, Fe, and Zn. Its potential was evaluated on tomato plant growth by conducting an experiment in a factorial completely randomized design with three replications. Two levels of salinity (2 and 5 ds m−1, two types of soil texture) clay loam and sandy loam) and five levels of fertilizers were examined in the experiment. To this, the graphene oxide-chitosan coated-humic acid@Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@HA@GO-Cs), and the graphene oxide-chitosan coated-ammonium zinc phosphate (AZP@GO-Cs) were used as Fe and Zn sources, respectively. Then, the optimal Fe and Zn fertilizers in the presence of urea, phosphorus, and potassium slow- release fertilizers (SRF) were investigated under greenhouse conditions. The results indicated that the best improvement in growth and nutrient uptake in plants was achieved by using the SRF. Notably, in the shoots of tomato plants, the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, Fe, and Zn concentration increased by 44, 66, 46, 75, and 74% compared to the control. The use of nanofertilizer can be an effective, biocompatible, and economical option to provide Fe and Zn demand in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of nanomaterials is a promising tool to achieve more efficient in vitro propagation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of rice husk derived biogenic silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the growth and proliferation of in vitro cultures of quince rootstock 'QA'. In vitro cultures were exposed to six levels of SiO2 NPs (0, 1, 5, 25, 50, 100 mg L− 1) and seven levels of ZnO NPs (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 25, 50 mg L− 1). Proliferation and growth rate were determined in plantlets recovered from ZnO NPs and SiO2 NPs-treatments and controls that were grown under in vitro conditions for 35 days. The results showed in vitro shoots of quince rootstock QA treated with SiO2 NPs at a concentration of 1 mgL− 1 had the highest number of axillary shoots (2.46). Also quince rootstock QA plantlets regenerated from ZnO NPs-treatments showed the highest shoot length and the number of leaves at a concentration of 2.5 mg L− 1 (6.86 and 14.26, respectively). This research demonstrated the use of 1 mg L− 1 of SiO2 NPs and 2.5 mg L− 1 of ZnO NPs in the tissue culture medium may improve proliferation and growth rate in quince rootstock 'QA' explants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Engineered nanocarriers have great potentialto deliver different genetic cargos to plant cells and increase the efficiency of plant genetic engineering. Genetic engineering has improved the quality and quantity of crops by introducing desired DNA sequences into the plant genome. Traditional transformation strategies face constraints such as low transformation efficiency, damage to plant tissues, and genotype dependency. Smart nanovehicle-based delivery is a newly emerged method for direct DNA delivery to plant genomes. The basis of this new approach of plant genetic transformation, nanomaterial-mediated gene delivery, is the appropriate protection of transferred DNA from the nucleases present in the cell cytoplasm through the nanocarriers. The conjugation of desired nucleic acids with engineered nanocarriers can solve the problem of genetic manipulation in some valuable recalcitrant plant genotypes. Combining nano-enabled genetic transformation with the new and powerful technique of targeted genome editing, CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), can create new protocols for efficient improvement of desired plants. Silica-based nanoporous materials, especially mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), are currently regarded as exciting nanoscale platforms for genetic engineering as they possess several useful properties including ordered and porous structure, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and surface chemistry. These specific features have made MSNs promising candidates for the design of smart, controlled, and targeted delivery systems in agricultural sciences. In the present review, we discuss the usability, challenges, and opportunities for possible application of nano-enabled biomolecule transformation as part of innovative approaches for target delivery of genes of interest into plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical compounds with a toxic nature are released into the aquatic environment and can lead to adverse effects on ecological sustainability. Thus, enhancing the separation and treatment of the toxic compounds seem necessary. In this study, uptake and removal efficiency for the adsorption of two pharmaceutical compounds, ibuprofen (IBU) and penicillin G (PEN G), from aqueous solutions by Fe3O4@GO-IL were investigated. However, the effect of main effective variables including pH, concentrations, adsorbent dosage, and contact time were investigated. Isotherm and kinetic models also were studied. The maximum IBU removal rate was achieved about 97.58 (~5 mg/g) under optimal condition, pH 6.5, adsorbent dose 0.120 g/L, contact time 60 min, initial concentration 12.7 mg/L. At a condition of pH 4, adsorbent dose 0.3 g/L, contact time 97.5 min, initial concentration 32.43 mg/L, the maximum PEN G was 95% (9.14 mg/g). The Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms and pseudo-second-order models gave the best-fit to equilibrium experimental adsorption data. The findings of the study showed that new modified magnetic nanoparticles-graphene using ionic liquid (ILMNPs) can use as a high potential, simple, rapid separation, and re-generable material for adsorption pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imidazolium-based ionic liquid functionalized PEGylated mesoporous silica nanoparticles MCM-41 (denoted as [ImIL-PEGylated@MCM-41] NPs) is synthesized and evaluated as an efficient and reliable pH-sensitive nano-carrier for controlled release of cationic Lapatinib (Lap) drug. This nano-DDS was fully characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption measurement, and differential scanning calorimeter. Furthermore, the drug loading content and in-vitro drug release profile were studied. The entrapment and loading efficiency of the optimized formulation for Lap were 91 ± 2.0% and 32.21 ± 2.70%, respectively. The results of cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that ImIL-PEG@MCM-41 has no significant toxicity on both cancerous and normal cell lines and the anticancer activity of Lap@ImIL-PEG@MCM-41 was comparable to free drug in case of human breast cells (SKBR3) and human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK-293). Meanwhile, three-dimensional (3D) cell culture was performed by multicellular tumor spheroids for understanding of cell response to drugs in physiologically 3D microenvironments. The results of Lap@ImIL-PEG@MCM-41 uptake during 48 hours showed a gradual release of the Lap through the multicellular tumor spheroids. This showed that the pH-responsive controlled release of Lapatinib leads to the satisfactory results in the in vitro breast cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, ultrasonic synthesis is applied for the fabrication of a novel catalyst, based on immobilization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on thiourea functionalized magnetic hydroxyapatite. A recoverable Ag nano-catalyst is constructed by decoration of AgNPs on the surface of thiourea modified magnetic hydroxyapatite. Magnetic hydroxyapatite is used as an organic–inorganic hybrid support for the catalyst. The organic–inorganic hybrid support is prepared by co-precipitation, followed by its surface modification through covalent functionalization of 1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-3-propyl)thiourea. The fabricated catalyst has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The nanoparticles are mostly tubular in shape and their particle sizes are smaller than 100 nm. This nanocatalyst shows efficient and robust catalytic activity in different reactions, including selective reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) and oxidation of primary amines by applying NaBH4 and urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) as reagents, respectively. The catalyst shows good reusability in 10 sequential reaction runs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel methodology is introduced for the synthesis of novel 5-methyl-8H-isoquinolino[1,2-b]quinazolin-8-one derivatives based on an efficient immobilized palladium catalyzed intramolecular carbon–carbon bond formation. The novel catalyst is fabricated by immobilization of Pd on phosphinite polyethyleneimine functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticles (denoted as Pd@OPPh2–PEI–mSiO2 NPs). In this catalyst, PEI moieties act as both a water dispersant and base in the reaction. In the key step, 3-allyl-2-(2-bromophenyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones (3a–i) were synthesized via a cyclization reaction between N-allyl-2-aminobenzamides and 2-bromobenzaldehyde. The latter obtained materials then underwent an intramolecular carbon–carbon bond formation in the presence of the Pd@Ph2PO–PEI–mSiO2 catalyst to give 5-methyl-13,13a-dihydro-8H-isoquinolino[1,2-b]quinazolin-8-ones (4a–i). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green synthesis of 2‐(4‐((1‐phenyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)oxy)phenyl)quinazolin‐4(3H)‐one derivatives is reported. The catalyst for this synthesis is copper‐supported β‐cyclodextrin‐functionalized magnetic silica–iron oxide nanoparticles ([Cu@BCD@SiO2@SPION]). [Cu@BCD@SiO2@SPION] simultaneously catalyses ‘click’ reaction, oxidation of CN bond and multicomponent reaction. The desired 1,2,3‐triazolylquinazolinone product is easily obtained in water at room temperature under mild reaction conditions. Another advantage of the catalyst is its reusability. It can simply be isolated using an external magnet and reused in reactions with no significant decrease in catalyst efficiency. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are used for exact characterization of the [Cu@BCD@SiO2@SPION] catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel design of gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles was fabricated as a potential delivery system to improve the efficiency and stability of d, l-sulforaphane as an anticancer drug. To this purpose, the surface of gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles was modified for sulforaphane delivery via furnishing its surface with thiolated polyethylene glycol-folic acid and thiolated polyethylene glycol-FITC. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by different techniques such as FTIR, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The average diameters of the synthesized nanoparticles before and after sulforaphane loading were obtained ∼ 33 nm and ∼ 38 nm, respectively, when ∼ 2.8 mmol/g of sulforaphane was loaded. The result of cell viability assay which was confirmed by apoptosis assay on the human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 line) as a model of in vitro-cancerous cells, proved that the bare nanoparticles showed little inherent cytotoxicity, whereas the sulforaphane-loaded nanoparticles were cytotoxic. The expression rate of the anti-apoptotic genes (bcl-2 and bcl-xL), and the pro-apoptotic genes (bax and bak) were quantified, and it was found that the expression rate of bcl-2 and bcl-xL genes significantly were decreased when MCF-7 cells were incubated by sulforaphane-loaded nanoparticles. The sulforaphane-loaded into the designed gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles, acceptably induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface of SBA-15 was functionalized using diphenylphosphine and then it was treated with butane sultone and sulfuric acid to obtain Brønsted acid HO3S-phosphonium based ionic liquid functionalized SBA-15 with 4-methylbenzenesulfonate (p-TS–) as a counteranion. [HO3S-PhospIL@SBA-15], efficiently catalyzed synthesis of 2-amino-3-cyano-4,6-diarylpyridine derivatives through the reaction of chalcones, malononitrile, and ammonium acetate in good yields at 50°C in EtOH. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aminopropyl functionalized PEGylated mesoporous silica nanoparticles [H 2 N-Pr@PEGylated SBA-15] were synthesized and evaluated as a promising biocompatible additive to study the activity and thermal reversibility and stability of human carbonic anhydrase II (HCA II). For this purpose, the additive was prepared by covalent amino propyl functionalization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) bearing PEG moiety as linker. The MSNs was fully characterized using different techniques including transmission electron microscopy, N 2 adsorption–desorption measurements, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. The average particle size of [H 2 N-Pr@PEGylated SBA-15] was about 80 nm and showed high loading capacity for HCA II at pH 7.75 as a target protein. The efficiency of [H 2 N-Pr@PEGylated SBA-15] in improving reversibility of HCA II was investigated by various techniques including UV–vis, 1,8-Anilinonaphtalene Sulfonate (ANS) fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and differential scanning calorimetry. Our results showed that [H 2 N-Pr@PEGylated SBA-15] can increase the protein thermal reversibility and stability. Herein, kinetic studies were applied to confirm the ability of [H 2 N-Pr@PEGylated SBA-15] in increasing the activity of HCA II at high temperatures. Together our results present the [H 2 N-Pr@PEGylated SBA-15] as a water-dispersible and efficient additive for improving the activity, and thermal reversibility and stability of enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphonic acid functionalized KIT-6 confined ionic liquid (IL, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIm][BF4]) catalyzed the one-pot condensation reaction of iminochromenes and salicylaldehydes with different primary alcohols to achieve the corresponding 4-alkoxy-5H-chromen[2,3-d]pyrimidines under solvent-free conditions and in good yields. This efficient nanocatalyst can be recovered for at least five reaction runs without significant loss of either activity or confined IL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, iron-gold core shell magnetic nanoparticles Fe@Au NPs was investigated as contrasting agent in radiation therapy in the breast cancer. Assessment of cytotoxic and radio sensitizing potential was done by MTT method and Flow cytometry. Radiation was done using Co 60 source. The response of cells to treatment with radiation alone and radiation with nanoparticles was assessed. The study demonstrates that Fe@Au nanoparticles do not have considerable cytotoxic effects, but they increase the effectiveness of radiation that means the survival of the group without nanoparticles exposed to 5 Gy radiations is 75%while the group with nanoparticles is 33%. With 2 Gy radiations the survival of the two groups are 87% and 80% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various monospiro-2-amino-4 H-pyran derivatives have been synthesized in high yields ( via three-component coupling of ninhydrin or different isatins with malononitrile and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds) in the presence of catalytic amount of propane-1-sulfonic acid-modified magnetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles in H2O. Due to easy magnetic removal of nanocatalyst and applying of H2O as solvent, this protocol enhanced product purity, and promised economic as well as environmental benefits, exemplifying a waste-free chemistry. More importantly, the catalyst could be easily recycled for more than five times without loss of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modified β-casein (mβ- CN) was investigated as an efficient additive for thermal reversibility of human carbonic anhydrase II ( HCA II) at p H 7.75. The mβ- CN was obtained via modification of β-casein (β- CN) acidic residues using Woodward's reagent K. The effects of mβ- CN on the reversibility and stability of HCA II were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, UV-vis, and 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonic acid fluorescence spectroscopic methods. The mβ- CN, as an additive, enhanced thermal reversibility of HCA II by 33%. Together, our results indicated that mβ- CN is very efficient in decreasing thermal aggregation and enhancing the stability of HCA II. Using theoretical studies, we propose that the mechanism for thermal reversibility is mediated through formation of a salt bridge between the Woodward part of mβ- CN and the Zn ion of HCA II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel magnetically recoverable silver nano-catalyst was fabricated by the adsorption–reduction of Ag (I) ions on the surface of hydroxyapatite encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles. The magnetic catalyst could be easily separated by the application of an external magnetic field. The samples have been characterized by VSM, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), which reveal the superparamagnetic nano-nature of the particles. From these studies we can infer that the particles are mostly spherical in shape and have an average size of 10nm. The catalytic ability of the Ag nanoparticles supported on the magnetic nanocarier was found to be excellent and they cleanly oxidize primary amines to N-monoalkylated hydroxylamines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]