Template-free microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of manganese zinc ferrite as a nanofertilizer for squash plant (Cucurbita pepo L)

Manganese Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Mechanisms of Influence on Plant Resistance to Stress, and Prospects for Application in Agricultural Chemistry

Manganese (Mn) is an important microelement for the mineral nutrition of plants, but it is not effectively absorbed from the soil and mineral salts added thereto and can also be toxic in high concentrations. Mn nanoparticles (NPs) are less toxic, more effective, and economical than Mn salts due to their nanosize. This article critically reviews the current publications on Mn NPs, focusing on their effects on plant health, growth, and stress tolerance, and explaining possible mechanisms of their effects. This review also provides basic information and examples of chemical, physical, and ecological ("green") methods for the synthesis of Mn NPs. It has been shown that the protective effect of Mn NPs is associated with their antioxidant activity, activation of systemic acquired resistance (SAR), and pronounced antimicrobial activity against phytopathogens. In conclusion, Mn NPs are promising agents for agriculture, but their effects on gene expression and plant microbiome require further research.

Zn and Co ferrite nanoparticles: towards the applications of sensing and adsorption studies

An important deliberation of this current work is the impending applications of bivalent transition metals doped with nano ferrites and to study their emerging properties of magnetically active ferrites, which constitute oxides of iron (different conformers most demanding γ-Fe₂O₃) and transition metal complexes of bivalent metal oxides like cobalt (Co(II)) and magnesium (Mg(II)). Fe³⁺ ions occupy tetrahedral sites; the rest of Fe³⁺ and the Co²⁺ ions occupy octahedral sites. For the synthesis, a self-propagating method of combustion at lower temperature was used. Zinc and cobalt nano ferrites are synthesized from the chemical coprecipitation method of 20 to 90 nm in average size, characterized thoroughly employing FTIR and PXRD and surface morphology studied using SEM. These results explain the existence of ferrite nanoparticles in cubic spinel. Magnetically active metal oxide nanoparticles are now commonly employed in main studies of sensing, absorption, and other properties. All studies showed the interesting results.

Biosynthesis and characterization of nanoparticles, its advantages, various aspects and risk assessment to maintain the sustainable agriculture: Emerging technology in modern era science

The current review aims to gain knowledge on the biosynthesis and characterization of nanoparticles (NPs), their multifactorial role, and emerging trends of NPs utilization in modern science, particularly in sustainable agriculture, for increased yield to solve the food problem in the coming era. However, it is well known that an environment-friendly resource is in excessive demand, and green chemistry is an advanced and rising resource in exploring eco-friendly processes. Plant extracts or other resources can be utilized to synthesize different types of NPS. Hence NPs can be synthesized by organic or inorganic molecules. Inorganic molecules are hydrophilic, biocompatible, and highly steady compared to organic types. NPs occur in numerous chemical conformations ranging from amphiphilic molecules to metal oxides, from artificial polymers to bulky biomolecules. NPs structures can be examined by different approaches, i.e., Raman spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and solid-state NMR. Nano-agrochemical is a unification of nanotechnology and agro-chemicals, which has brought about the manufacture of nano-fertilizers, nano-pesticides, nano-herbicides, nano-insecticides, and nano-fungicides. NPs can also be utilized as an antimicrobial solution, but the mode of action for antibacterial NPs is poorly understood. Presently known mechanisms comprise the induction of oxidative stress, the release of metal ions, and non-oxidative stress. Multiple modes of action towards microbes would be needed in a similar bacterial cell for antibacterial resistance to develop. Finally, we visualize multidisciplinary cooperative methods will be essential to fill the information gap in nano-agrochemicals and drive toward the usage of green NPs in agriculture and plant science study.

Development of zinc ferrite nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic performance for remediation of environmentally toxic pharmaceutical waste diclofenac sodium from wastewater

Diclofenac sodium is an anti-inflammatory drug commonly used to cure pain in various treatments. The remarkable potential of this pain-killer leads to its excessive use and, therefore, a persistent water contaminant. Its presence in aqueous bodies is hazardous for both humans and the environment because it causes the growth of harmful drug-resistant bacteria in water. Herein, we present a comparative study of the ZnO and ZnFe₂O₄ as photocatalysts for the degradation of diclofenac sodium, along with their structural and morphological studies. A simple co-precipitation method was used for the synthesis of ZnO and ZnFe₂O₄ and characterized by various analytical techniques. For instance, the UV-Vis study revealed the absorption maxima of ZnO at 320 nm, which was shifted to a longer wavelength region at 365 nm for zinc ferrite. The optical band gaps obtained from the Tauc plot indicated that the incorporation of iron has led to a decreased band gap of zinc ferrite (2.89 eV) than pure ZnO (3.14 eV). The metal-oxygen linkages shown by FTIR indicated the formation of desired ZnO and ZnFe₂O₄, which was further confirmed by XRD. It elucidated the typical hexagonal structure for ZnO and spinel cubic structure for ZnFe₂O₄ with an average crystallite of 31 nm and 44 nm for ZnO and ZnFe₂O₄, respectively. The micrographs obtained by SEM showed rough spherical particles of ZnO, whereas for ZnFe₂O₄ flower-like clustered particles were observed. The photocatalytic investigation against diclofenac sodium revealed the higher degradation efficiency of ZnFe₂O₄ (61.4%) in only 120 min, whereas ZnO degraded only 48.9% of the drug. Moreover, zinc ferrite has shown good recyclability and was stable up to five runs of photodegradation with a small loss (3.9%) of photocatalytic activity. The comparison of two catalysts has suggested the promising role of zinc ferrite in wastewater remediation to eliminate hazardous pharmaceuticals.

The impact of nanofertilizer on agro-morphological criteria, yield, and genomic stability of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The use of agricultural fertilizers is one of the methods to beat the desired enormous increase in universal food production. The application of nanotechnology in agriculture is regarded as one of the promising approaches to elevate crop production. Whereas mineral nutrients play a crucial role in the growth and yield of the common bean. The experiments were conducted to investigate the application effect of micronutrients as nanoparticles (MN-NPs) on the common ben plants. The trial was performed in the field in El-Menofya, Egypt, through two seasons (2019 & 2020) in a randomized complete block design with three replicates and four combinations of MN-NPs (ZnO, MnO₂ and MoO₃) with concentrations 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 mg/L as a foliar application. The data exhibited that the foliar application of MN-NPs significantly upgraded the vegetative growth characters, flower number/plant, photosynthetic pigments, and yield. The concentration of 40 mg/L of MN-NPs leads to improving the vegetative growth, flowering number, and yield characteristics of the common bean. While the biochemical components varied in their response to MN-NPs combinations. The recommended MN-NPs concentration to ameliorate the common bean growth and yield was 40 mg/L.

The effect of exposure to MoO3-NP and common bean fertilized by MoO3-NPs on biochemical, hematological, and histopathological parameters in rats

Nanotechnologies has been used to introduce several beneficial tools in the agricultural field. Herein, the effect of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (MoO₃-NPs) was investigated by evaluating the hematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters in rats orally exposed to MoO₃-NPs or fed common beans (CB) fertilized by MoO₃-NPs. In the first study, 18 rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: G1 (control group) was given water orally, while G2 and G3 were administered 10 and 40 ppm MoO₃-NPs by oral gavage tube, respectively. There was a significant increase in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, and total protein; however, there was a a significant decrease in body weight change (BWC), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatinine, creatine kinase–MB (CK-MB), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and testosterone levels in G3 compared to G1. In the second study, 24 rats were divided into 4 groups: the control (C) group was fed a balanced diet, and three groups were fed on a balanced diet plus 10% CB that was fertilized with 0, 10, and 40 ppm MoO₃-NPs, resulting in nCB, CB10, and CB40 groups, respectively. This revealed a significant increase in BWC and total food intake (TFI) but a significant decrease in relative kidney weight in all the CB groups compared to the control group. In CB10 and CB40 groups ALT, LDH, TSH, FT3, and testosterone levels were significantly lower than the respective levels in the control group. We concluded that high doses of MoO₃-NPs caused more side effects than low doses in both experiments.

Can Nanofertilizers Mitigate Multiple Environmental Stresses for Higher Crop Productivity?

The global food production for the worldwide population mainly depends on the huge contributions of the agricultural sector. The cultivated crops of foods need various elements or nutrients to complete their growth, and these are indirectly consumed by humans. During this production, several environmental constraints or stresses may cause losses in the global agricultural production. These obstacles may include abiotic and biotic stresses, which have already been studied in both individual and combined cases. However, there are very few studies on multiple stresses. On the basis of the myriad benefits of nanotechnology in agriculture, nanofertilizers (or nanonutrients) have become promising tools for agricultural sustainability. Nanofertilizers are also the proper solution to overcoming the environmental and health problems that can result from conventional fertilizers. The role of nanofertilizers has increased, especially under different environmental stresses, which can include individual, combined, and multiple stresses. The stresses are most commonly the result of nature; however, studies are still needed on the different stress levels. Nanofertilizers can play a crucial role in supporting cultivated plants under stress and in improving the plant yield, both quantitatively and qualitatively. Similar to other biological issues, many open-ended questions still require further investigation: Is the right time and era for nanofertilizers in agriculture? Will the nanofertilizers be the dominant source of nutrients in modern agriculture? Are nanofertilizers, and particularly biological synthesized ones, the magic solution for sustainable agriculture? What are the expected damages of multiple stresses on plants?

Recent development in functional nanomaterials for sustainable and smart agricultural chemical technologies

New advances in nanotechnology are driving a wave of technology revolution impacting a broad range of areas in agricultural production. The current work reviews nanopesticides, nano-fabricated fertilizers, and nano activity-based growth promoters reported in the last several years, focusing on mechanisms revealed for preparation and functioning. It appears to us that with many fundamental concepts have been demonstrated over last two decades, new advances in this area continue to expand mainly in three directions, i.e., efficiency improvement, material sustainability and environment-specific stimulation functionalities. It is also evident that environmental and health concerns associated with nano agrochemicals are the primary motivation and focus for most recent work. Challenges and perspectives for future development of nano agrochemicals are also discussed.

Both Zn biofortification and nutrient distribution pattern in cherry tomato plants are influenced by the application of ZnO nanofertilizer

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the influence of commercial nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) at different doses for use as nanofertilizer on nutrient uptake and its distribution in cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L var. cerasiforme) plants in an acidic (soil pH 5.5) and calcareous soil (soil pH 8.5) from the Mediterranean area. We determined crop yield; macro- (N, P, K, Mg, S and Ca) and micro-nutrient (B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Na and Zn) concentrations in the different parts of the crop (root, stem, leaves and tomato fruits) and the extent of nutrient translocation to the aerial part of the plant. The concentrations of macronutrients N, P, K and Mg in tomato fruits grown in both soils can be considered adequate in terms of nutritional requirements. However, the Ca concentration in tomato fruits grown in the calcareous soil did not reach the required concentration to be considered sufficient. This effect was related to the characteristics of this calcareous soil. Although different concentrations of ZnO-NPs did not affect Fe and Na concentrations in tomato fruit, B concentration in tomato fruits increased with the application of ZnO-NPs. In addition, Cu concentration decreased with the application of ZnO-NPs compared to treatments without any Zn application (Nil-ZnO NP) in the calcareous soil. Manganese concentrations decreased with ZnO-NPs application in both soils. The effect of the application of ZnO-NPs depends on soil characteristics. Zinc applied as a nanofertilizer in the form of ZnO-NPs can be used to increase the crop yield and to obtain an adequate Zn biofortification in cherry tomato crop. The Zn concentrations in tomato fruits reached ranges of 4.5–4.8 mg Zn kg⁻¹ in the acidic soil and 2.5–3,5 mg Zn kg⁻¹ in the calcareous soil. Nutrient concentrations in these fruits following biofortification are adequate for human consumption.

Molecular imprinted polymer for tramadol: Absorption and drug release studies

Smart polymeric matrices based on 2‐vinyl pyridine (2‐VPY) and three different crosslinkers: ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA), divinylbenzene (DVB), and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) were prepared either by the imprinting technique of the tramadol molecule or conventionally by the free radical polymerization process. The polymers were used as sorbent materials for tramadol from its solutions. The polymers prepared by the imprinting technique demonstrated superior absorption of tramadol molecules than those prepared by the conventional method. The two sorbent materials constructed from TMPTMA, regardless of the method, achieved the highest absorption capacity compared with those prepared from EGDMA or DVB. It was found that loaded imprinted polymer released more tramadol than loaded nonimprinted polymer in all media. In the acidic medium, the protonation of the nitrogen atom in the pyridine ring ionized the chains and expanded the loaded pores leading to the rapid release over the neutral and alkaline media. Additionally, the isothermal studies of MIP3 and NIP3 were extremely fitted to Freundlich adsorption and the (D–R) isotherm, respectively, while the kinetic studies of both sorbents were fitted to the pseudo‐second‐order model.

Nano-enabled agrochemicals/materials: Potential human health impact, risk assessment, management strategies and future prospects

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing technology that will have a significant impact on product development in the next few years. The technology is already being employed in cutting-edge cosmetic and healthcare products. Nanotechnology and nanoparticles have a strong potential for product and process innovation in the food industrial sector. This is already being demonstrated by food product availability made using nanotechnology. Nanotechnologies will have an impact on food security, packaging materials, delivery systems, bioavailability, and new disease detection materials in the food production chain, contributing to the UN Millennium Development Goals targets. Food products using nanoparticles are already gaining traction into the market, with an emphasis on online sales. This means that pre- and post-marketing regulatory frameworks and risk assessments must meet certain standards. There are potential advantages of nanotechnologies for agriculture, consumers and the food industry at large as they are with other new and growing technologies. However, little is understood about the safety implications of applying nanotechnologies to agriculture and incorporating nanoparticles into food. As a result, policymakers and scientists must move quickly, as regulatory systems appear to require change, and scientists should contribute to these adaptations. Their combined efforts should make it easier to reduce health and environmental impacts while also promoting the economic growth of nanotechnologies in the food supply chain. This review highlighted the benefits of a number of nano enabled agrochemicals/materials, the potential health impacts as well as the risk assessment and risk management for nanoparticles in the agriculture and food production chain.

Alkaline steaming-assisted conversion: a new strategy for the synthesis of pure NiFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 spinel ferrite nanoparticles

A new strategy, the ‘alkaline steaming-assisted conversion route,’ has been developed to synthesize pure NiFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles by using ethylenediamine, together with ammonia, collectively as the alkaline steaming vapor.

Microwave applications in the food industry: an overview of recent developments

Microwave radiation has the ability to heat a material with dielectric properties. Material absorbs microwave energy and then converts it into heat, which gives the possibility of a wide use of microwaves in many industry sectors or agricultural sciences. Microwaves are especially widely used in food industry. The main objective of this paper is to present an overview of recent development regarding microwave applications in food industry. Many techniques in food processing (pasteurization, sterilization, drying, thawing, blanching and stunning) are assisted by microwave energy. It should be mentioned also the use of microwaves in nutrients and nutraceuticals production. Waste generation is an integral part of food production. Microwaves have also application in wastes management. The results of experiments, factors affecting heating and their practical application have been discussed. Many cases have been compared with conventional process methods. The use of microwaves shows many advantages. The most important aspect is shortening the time of the thermal process (even by 50%) and reducing the costs of the operation. In addition, it allows to increase the efficiency of processes while maintaining high quality. The examples of microwave applications given in the article are environmentally- friendly because the conditions of thermal processing allow for reducing the use of solvents and the amount of sewage by decreasing the demand for water. It is anticipated that microwaves will become increasingly popular, with the development of new microwave technologies solving many problems in the future.

Biosensing platform on ferrite magnetic nanoparticles: Synthesis, functionalization, mechanism and applications

Ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (FMNPs) are gaining popularity to design biosensors for high-performance clinical diagnosis. The fusion of information shows that FMNPs based biosensors require well-tuned FMNPs as detection probes to produce large and specific biological signals with minimal non-specific binding. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable lacuna of information to solve the issues related to suitable synthesis route, particle size reduction, functionalization, sensitivity towards targeted intercellular biological tiny particles, and lower signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore it allows exploring unique characteristics of FMNPs to design a suitable sensing device for intracellular measurements and diseases detection. This review focuses on the extensively used synthesis routes, their advantages and limitations, crystalline structure, functionalization, along with recent applications of FMNPs in biosensors, taking into consideration their analytical figures of merit and range of linearity. This work also addresses the current progress, key factors for sensitivity, selectivity and productivity improvement along with the challenges, future trends and perspectives of FMNPs based biosensors.

Recent advances in the applications of nano-agrochemicals for sustainable agricultural development

Modern agricultural practices have triggered the process of agricultural pollution. This process can cause the degradation of eco-systems, land, and environment owing to the modern-day by-products of agriculture. The substantial use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and, contaminated water for irrigation cause further damage to agriculture. The current scenario of the agriculture and food sector has therefore become unsustainable. Nanotechnology has provided innovative and resourceful frontiers to the agriculture sector by contributing practical applications in conventional agricultural ways and practices. There is a large possibility that agri-nanotechnology can have a significant impact on the sustainable agriculture and crop growth. Recent research has shown the potential of nanotechnology in improving the agriculture sector by enhancing the efficiency of agricultural inputs and providing solutions to agricultural problems for improving food productivity and security. The prospective use of nanoscale agrochemicals such as nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, nanosensors, and nanoformulations in agriculture has transformed traditional agro-practices, making them more sustainable and efficient. However, the application of these nano-products in real field situations raises concern about nanomaterial safety, exposure levels, and toxicological repercussions to the environment and human health. The present review gives an insight into recent advancements in nanotechnology-based agrochemicals that have revolutionized the agriculture sector. Further, the implementation barriers related to the nanomaterial use in agriculture, their commercialization potential, and the need for policy regulations to assess possible nano-agricultural risks are also discussed.

Applications of nanotechnology on vegetable crops

Agriculture is the backbone of most developing countries, and most of their people depend on it for their livelihood. The world population is increased by approximately 83 million people each year, so there is a need to increase agricultural productivity. At present, productivity growth can be achieved either by expanding the area cultivated or increasing crop yields through improving the efficiency of fertilizers used. Therefore, there has been a trend to use modern technologies, such as nanotechnology (NT), to increase the productivity of plants. Where, it is involved in the food production process, from planting to packaging. NT improves plants' ability to absorb nutrients, and the agronomic properties of soil, which improves plant growth and productivity. Economically, NT increased the efficiency of nano-fertilizers, and so contributed to increasing productivity and the production of crops. However, the study of the effect of nanotechnology on the environment of soils and plants did not receive the required study. In this review, a comprehensive survey is exhibited on NT as an effective method in dealing with the problem of fertilizer loss during irrigation. This review discusses the technologies and applications of the latest research findings in this field. Furthermore, this review deals with the forms and types of nanoparticles and the methods of their transmission in plants, as well as their effect on plants (physiological and DNA) as well as on those who eat those plants.

Development of polymer composites and encapsulation technology for slow-release fertilizers

The fertilizer manufacturing faces an ongoing challenge to develop its products to raise the effectiveness of their application, mainly of nitrogenous fertilizers, as well as to reduce any probable adverse ecological effect. In general, chemical fertilizers are very necessary for agricultural lands to provide the essential nutrients for plant growth, which are lost and leached into the surrounding environment during irrigation, which then leads to unwanted side effects, such as crop failure or increased losses to the environment. To solve this problem of nutrients being wasted, the most effective way is to use slow or controlled-release fertilizers (S/CRFs). The current review provides an insight vision into the methods used to save agricultural fertilizers from being wasted due to irrigation. The functional materials or physical techniques are used to maintain a steady release of nutrients. Fertilizers are encapsulated with various compounds based on synthetic or natural polymers to be used as SRFs. In this review paper, a comprehensive survey is presented on SRFs as an effective method in dealing with the problem of fertilizer wastage during irrigation. This review discusses the technology and applications of the latest research findings in this field.

Low-temperature-synthesized Mn-doped Bi2Fe4O9 as an efficient electrode material for supercapacitor applications

Manganese-doped Bi2Fe4O9, a new material synthesized at a low temperature with a micro-rectangular-shaped particles, is used for supercapacitor applications.

Green synthesis of zinc ferrite nanoparticles for photocatalysis of methylene blue

In this study, zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZF-NPs) were synthesized using aqueous seed extract of Piper nigrum as a bio-reducing and stabilizing agent. FTIR, SEM, FE-SEM, XRD, and TGA have been used for characterizing ZF-NPs. The results showed that Piper nigrum stabilized ZF-NPs have high purity and size range of 60-80 nm. The performance of the ZF-NPs has been investigated by photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue (MB) in the presence of sunlight. The factors responsible for affecting the degradation values of the reaction were also explored for developing a better understanding of the phenomenon.