Nanomaterial-Based Biofortification: Potential Benefits and Impacts of Crops.

Nanomaterials (NMs) have shown relevant impacts in crop protection, improvement of yields, and minimizing collateral side effects of fertilizer and pesticides in vegetable and fruit production. The application of NMs to improve biofortification has gained much attention in the last five years, offering a hopeful and optimistic outlook. Thus, we propose comprehensively revising the scientific literature about the use of NMs in the agronomic biofortification of crops and analyzing the beneficial impact of the use of NMs.

Physiological and agronomical traits effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in seedlings of Solanum lycopersicum L.

Background: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) have been reported to have contrasting effects on plant physiology, while their effects on sugar, protein, and amino acid metabolism are poorly understood. In this work, we evaluated the effects of TiO NPs on physiological and agronomical traits of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seedlings.

Assessing the ecological risk of active principles used currently by freshwater fish farms.

The global aquaculture industry has grown exponentially in recent years using to control of infections and diseases, a variety of veterinary drugs (VMP) are used, including antibiotics, antifungals and antiparasitics, which have different routes of emission, environmental persistence and side effects to aquatic organisms, becoming one of the main concerns in its use of veterinary drugs (VMP) and its potential toxicological impact on the environment, in this context, Chile is considered one of the main salmon producers. Ecological risk assessment of active principles used infreshwater fish farms worldwide and in Chile were investigated. We recollect a physical - chemical properties of active principles used by fish farms and we could estimate the relative hazard a priori.

Hybrid porous silicon/green synthetized Ag microparticles as potential carries for Ag nanoparticles and drug delivery.

In the present work, the fabrication of hybrid porous silicon/green synthetized Ag microparticles was shown and the potential use as carriers for Ag nanoparticles and drug delivery was explored. Hybrid microparticles were fabricated by incorporating green synthetized Ag nanoparticles into porous silicon matrix. The main physicochemical characteristics of the hybrid systems were studied by several techniques including UV-vis spectroscopy, TEM, SEM, XRD and XPS.

The Wing-Spot and the Comet Tests as Useful Assays for Detecting Genotoxicity in Drosophila.

In spite of its pioneer use in detecting mutational processes, Drosophila still plays an important role in those studies aiming to detect and quantify the induction of DNA damage. Here we describe two assays, one detecting primary damage (the Comet assay) and the other detecting somatic mutation and recombination effects (wing-spot test). It is important to emphasize that somatic recombination is a key event in cancer development and no assays exist at present to detect and quantify somatic recombination processes, other than the spot tests developed in Drosophila.

Assessing the effectiveness of green synthetized silver nanoparticles with Cryptocarya alba extracts for remotion of the organic pollutant methylene blue dye.

In the present work, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthetized with Cryptocarya alba (Peumo) leaf extract were studied. The fabrication method was fast, low cost, and eco-friendly, and the final properties of AgNPs were determined by experimental parameters, such as AgNO and Peumo extract concentrations used. Setting suitable experimental conditions, crystalline AgNPs with apparent spherical forms and average diameter around 3.

Genotoxicity of Copper and Nickel Nanoparticles in Somatic Cells of .

Copper and nickel nanoparticles (Cu-NPs and Ni-NPs, respectively) are used in a variety of industrial applications, such as semiconductors, catalysts, sensors, and antimicrobial agents. Although studies on its potential genotoxicity already exist, few of them report data. In the present study we have used the wing-spot assay in to determine the genotoxic activity of Cu-NPs and Ni-NPs, and these data have been compared with those obtained with their microparticle forms (MPs).

Antimutagenic evaluation of traditional medicinal plants from South America Peumus boldus and Cryptocarya alba using Drosophila melanogaster.

Peumus boldus Mol. ("Boldo") and Cryptocarya alba Mol. Looser ("Peumo") are medicinal shrubs with wide geographical distribution in South America.

Genotoxic and oxidative stress potential of nanosized and bulk zinc oxide particles in Drosophila melanogaster.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP) are manufactured on a large scale and can be found in a variety of consumer products, such as sunscreens, lotions, paints and food additives. Few studies have been carried out on its genotoxic potential and related mechanisms in whole organisms. In the present study, the in vivo genotoxic activity of ZnONP and its bulk form was assayed using the wing-spot test and comet assay in Drosophila melanogaster Additionally, a lipid peroxidation analysis using the thiobarbituric acid assay was also performed.

Genotoxicity of copper oxide nanoparticles in Drosophila melanogaster.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) are used as semiconductors, catalysts, gas sensors, and antimicrobial agents. We have used the comet and wing-spot assays in Drosophila melanogaster to assess the genotoxicity of CuONPs and ionic copper (CuSO4). Lipid peroxidation analysis was also performed (Thiobarbituric Acid Assay, TBARS).

Genotoxic testing of titanium dioxide anatase nanoparticles using the wing-spot test and the comet assay in Drosophila.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are widely used for preparations of sunscreens, cosmetics, food and personal care products. However, the possible genotoxic risk associated with this nano-scale material exposure is not clear, especially in whole organisms. In the present study, we explored the in vivo genotoxic activity of TiO2 NPs as well as their TiO2 bulk form using two well-established genotoxic assays, the wing spot test and the comet assay in Drosophila melanogaster.

The wing-spot and the comet tests as useful assays detecting genotoxicity in Drosophila.

In spite of its pioneer use in detecting mutational processes, Drosophila has yet an important role in studies aiming to detect and quantify the induction of DNA damage. Here we describe two assays, one detecting primary damage (the Comet assay) and the other detecting somatic mutation and recombination effects (wing-spot test). It is important to emphasize that somatic recombination is a key event in cancer and no assays exist to detect and quantify somatic recombination processes, other than the spot tests developed in Drosophila.

Genotoxicity testing of two lead-compounds in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster.

The in vivo genotoxic activity of two inorganic lead compounds was studied in Drosophila melanogaster by measurement of two different genetic endpoints. We used the wing-spot test and the comet assay. The comet assay was conducted with larval haemocytes.

Genotoxic effects of two nickel-compounds in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster.

In view of the scarcely available information on the in vivo mutagenic and co-mutagenic activity of nickel, the genotoxic potential of two nickel-compounds, nickel chloride (NiCl(2)) and nickel sulphate (NiSO(4)), was assessed in Drosophila melanogaster by measuring two different genetic endpoints. On the one hand, we used the wing-spot assay, which is based on the principle that the loss of heterozygosity of two suitable recessive markers, multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare-3 (flr(3)), can lead to the formation of mutant clones in the imaginal disks of larval cells. On the other hand, the in vivo comet assay, which detects single- and double-strand DNA breaks, was also used with larval haemocytes.

Proposal of an in vivo comet assay using haemocytes of Drosophila melanogaster.

This study presents the first application of an in vivo alkaline comet assay using haemocytes of Drosophila melanogaster larvae. These cells, which play a role similar to that of mammalian blood, can be easily obtained and represent an overall exposure of the treated larvae. To validate the assay, we evaluated the response of these cells to three well-known mutagenic agents: ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), potassium dichromate (PD), and gamma radiation (γ-irradiation).

Genotoxic evaluation of two halonitromethane disinfection by-products in the Drosophila wing-spot test.

Few studies on the genotoxicity of halonitromethanes (HNMs) have been done. This limited information on their potential genotoxic risk gives special relevance to the collection of new data on their potential genotoxic activity. In the present study we have analyzed the genotoxicity of two HNMs namely bromonitromethane (BNM) and trichloronitromethane (TCNM) in the in vivo wing somatic mutation and recombination test in Drosophila, also known as the wing-spot assay.

Genotoxic evaluation of two mercury compounds in the Drosophila wing spot test.

Few studies on the genotoxicity of mercury compounds have been carried out in Drosophila melanogaster, most of them focused in the effects on germinal cells, whereas studies in somatic cells are scarce. In the present study we have analyzed for the first time the genotoxic activity of mercury (II) chloride (MC) and methyl mercury (II) chloride (MMC) in the in vivo wing somatic mutation and recombination test in Drosophila, also known as the wing spot assay. This test is based on the principle that loss of heterozygosis and the corresponding expression of the suitable recessive markers, multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare-3 (flr(3)), can lead to the formation of mutant clones in larval cells, which are then expressed as spots on the wings of adult flies.