Article
Environmental Sciences
Sutanuka Mitra, Sampurna Mukherjee, Moumita Sil, Serene Adak, Piyali Maitra, Arunava Goswami, Volker Hessel
Summary: The progress of human civilization through industrialization has led to environmental pollution, with heavy metals being one of the most hazardous pollutants. The use of nanoparticles as adsorbents and chelators has emerged as a practical and cost-effective remediation technique. This study investigates the role of mesoporous silica nanoparticles in mitigating the stress of heavy metal toxicity on plant growth and soil bacteria. The results show that the application of specific concentrations of nanoparticles can stimulate plant growth, reduce reactive oxygen species, decrease lipid peroxidation, and enhance antioxidant enzyme activity. Furthermore, the effectiveness of different types of nanoparticles varies, indicating the importance of structure-function relationship.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rini Rahul, Pallavi Sharma
Summary: The study identified cadmium-tolerant and cadmium-sensitive genotypes in castor, with sensitive genotypes showing significant declines in various growth parameters and physiological indicators under cadmium treatment. Increased levels of Cu, H2O2, and MDA, along with reduced photosynthetic parameters, may contribute to the observed cadmium sensitivity in the sensitive genotype.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ellen Cristina Alves de Anicesio, Francisco Antonio Monteiro
Summary: The study showed that under Cd toxicity, high potassium supply enhances photosynthesis and antioxidant system in tanzania guinea grass, reducing oxidative stress and restoring cellular homeostasis.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianlong Hu, Jixu Zhao, Xi Zheng, Simeng Li, Qi Lv, Cunzhen Liang
Summary: Heavy metals are a major obstacle to the use of sewage sludge in land applications. Traditional chelators have drawbacks of low biodegradability. This study found that MGDA, a biodegradable chelator, is a potential environmentally friendly alternative for removing heavy metals from sludge, reducing the risk of secondary pollution.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Vega, Ninoska Delgado, Michael Handford
Summary: The study discusses the harmful effects of heavy metals on plants and the counteracting effects of chelators, emphasizing the feasibility of exogenously adding organic compounds and analyzing the impact of different chelators on crop heavy metal tolerance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tiago Tognolli de Almeida, Bruno Augusto Prohmann Tschoeke, Maria Carolina Quecine, Tiago Tezzoto, Salete Aparecida Gaziola, Ricardo Antunes Azevedo, Fernando Angelo Piotto, Ravely Casarotti Orlandelli, Manuella Nobrega Dourado, Joao Lucio Azevedo
Summary: This study aimed to isolate endophytic fungi from Eichhornia crassipes and select a highly cadmium (Cd) tolerant isolate for bioremediation. The isolated endophyte Mucor sp. CM3 showed tolerance to high Cd concentrations and could accumulate Cd in its biomass. It also promoted plant growth and increased metal translocation in tomato plants, indicating its potential for metal bioremediation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yue You, Lijuan Liu, Yu Wang, Jiaxin Li, Zhining Ying, Zhilin Hou, Huijun Liu, Shaoting Du
Summary: The study found that while graphene oxide (GO) reduced the accumulation of Cd in rice seedlings, it had adverse effects on plant growth under co-contamination conditions with Cd. Therefore, the impacts of GO on crop production, both positive and negative, should be a concern.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xiaoxiao Liu, Di Gong, Qingbo Ke, Lina Yin, Shiwen Wang, Tianpeng Gao
Summary: A meta-analysis of 86 studies has shown that nitric oxide (NO) can significantly improve plant biomass, alleviate oxidative damage, and increase the content of Ca, Fe, and Mg in heavy metal-stressed plants. The optimal concentration of SNP (an NO donor) for hydroponic culture is in the range of 75-150 μM. These findings provide valuable insights for the future application of NO as a plant growth regulator for enhancing heavy metal stress tolerance in agriculture and breeding.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shafaqat Ali, Manar Fawzi Bani Mfarrej, Muhammad Rizwan, Afzal Hussain, Munazzam Jawad Shahid, Xiukang Wang, Muhammad Nafees, Muhammad Waseem, Hesham F. Alharby
Summary: This study investigates the role of citric acid and chromium-resistant bacteria in remediating hexavalent chromium (Cr+6) from polluted soil using castor bean. Results showed that high concentrations of chromium negatively affected plant growth, while the application of citric acid improved plant growth. Staphylococcus aureus was found to be more effective in tolerating chromium toxicity compared to Bacillus subtilis. Castor bean demonstrated excellent potential in tolerating high chromium concentrations and can be effectively used in phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soil. The combined use of citric acid and metal-resistant bacteria can significantly enhance the phytoremediation potential of castor bean and other hyper-accumulator plants.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jagdish Gopal Paithankar, Sanjay Saini, Shiwangi Dwivedi, Anurag Sharma, Debapratim Kar Chowdhuri
Summary: The oxidative stress induced by heavy metals and its connection with different signaling pathways are complex, which may lead to a variety of health issues. Exposure to heavy metals/metalloids such as Arsenic, Chromium, Cadmium, and Lead can trigger oxidative stress and subsequently cellular and organismal responses, involving regulation of multiple signaling pathways.
Article
Plant Sciences
Valeria Fernandes de Oliveira Sousa, Thiago Jardelino Dias, Jose Eldo Costa, Sebastiao de Oliveira Maia Junior, Juliane Maciel Henschel, Raimundo Nonato Moraes Costa, Walter Esfrain Pereira, Jessica Aline Linne
Summary: The study showed that the use of castor bean cake up to 5 t ha(-1) can mitigate the deleterious effects of mild salinity (3 dS m(-1)) on biomass accumulation of basil plants by increasing antioxidant defense. However, the combination of saline water with high doses of castor bean cake (10 t ha(-1)) caused oxidative damages, reducing dry mass accumulation and gas exchanges.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liang Shi, Jie Li, Kumuduni Niroshika Palansooriya, Yahua Chen, Deyi Hou, Erik Meers, Daniel C. W. Tsang, Xiaonan Wang, Yong Sik Ok
Summary: Machine learning was used to predict the important factors affecting phytoextraction efficiency of hyperaccumulators. Heavy metal properties, especially the metal ion radius, were found to be the most important factors, while the plant family had the most influence on the bioconcentration factor, metal extraction ratio, and remediation time. The Crassulaceae family showed the highest potential as hyperaccumulators, related to gene expression and substance secretion. The insights from the machine learning model interpretation could guide efficient phytoremediation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Youzhi Li, Anthony Loureiro, Michel Nguyen, Marion Laurent, Christian Bijani, Francoise Benoit-Vical, Anne Robert, Yan Liu, Bernard Meunier
Summary: In response to the urgent need for new efficient drugs to combat the spreading resistance of malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to artemisinin-based combination therapies, a series of novel hybrid drugs named Atokels were synthesized and characterized. These drugs, based on an 8-amino- or 8-hydroxyquinoline entity covalently bound to a 1,4-naphthoquinone through a polyamine linker, have been designed to target the parasite mitochondrion and induce damaging oxidative stress. Promising antimalarial activity was shown by the most effective Atokel drug on an artemisinin-resistant P. falciparum strain, with no cytotoxicity at 50 μm.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rule Zhao, Liuhui Huang, Xin Peng, Lingjia Fan, Shuofu Chen, Pufeng Qin, Jiachao Zhang, Anwei Chen, Hongli Huang
Summary: Chelating agents are used to improve the uptake of heavy metals by plants and increase phytoextraction efficiency. Compound activators, such as a fruit peel-based activator (OG), have been widely applied in recent years. This study investigated the effects of OG combined with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (AP) on the phytoextraction of Cd from farmland soil by ryegrass. The results showed that the optimal combination of OG and AP improved the growth of ryegrass and enhanced the phytoextraction of Cd. Total soil nitrogen and pH were found to have the greatest influence on phytoextraction. The findings suggest that the application of the fruit peel-based activator and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria can effectively enhance phytoextraction of Cd from contaminated soils.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiong Li, Liyan Tian, Boqun Li, Huafang Chen, Gaojuan Zhao, Xiangshi Qin, Yuanyuan Liu, Yongping Yang, Jianchu Xu
Summary: The green soil chelator polyaspartic acid (PASP) can enhance heavy metal phytoextraction efficiency. PASP addition improves plant growth and promotes cadmium (Cd) uptake in Bidens pilosa by improving soil-available nutrients and activating plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. It also enhances rhizosphere-available Cd and activates rhizobacteria involved in immobilizing/mobilizing Cd, leading to increased Cd uptake by plants.
Review
Agricultural Engineering
S. Thanigaivel, Saravanan Rajendran, Tuan K. A. Hoang, Awais Ahmad, Rafael Luque
Summary: Compared to other hydrogen production methods, biohydrogen produced from biological origin like microalgae is significantly less harmful to the surrounding ecosystem and can replace conventional fossil fuels without emitting greenhouse gases. Substrates like food, agricultural waste, and industrial waste can be easily utilized after pretreatment, increasing hydrogen yield. Improving biofuel production at each stage can have a significant impact, making it a potentially useful tool. Thus, this study comprehensively covers various approaches to pretreat algal biomass, enzymes and catalysts for hydrogen production, variables influencing hydrogen production, and the potential applications of genetic engineering.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Sidra Anayatullah, Effa Irfan, Syed Makhdoom Hussain, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Irfan Sohail, Muhammad Jafir, Tanveer Ahmad, Muhammad Usman, Hesham F. Alharby
Summary: The global production of biomass from agricultural farmlands is being hindered by soil salinization, which leads to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death in plants. Nanoparticles (NPs) have shown potential in enhancing the antioxidant capabilities of plants and are being considered as an alternative to traditional phytohormones and nutrients. This article discusses the important role of ROS, antioxidant defense system, and redox homeostasis in plant adaptation to salt stress, as well as the potential limitations of NPs in crop production under environmental stresses.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Arisha Mubsher, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Jafir, Muhammad Umair, Hesham F. Alharby, Atif A. Bamagoos, Rahma Alshamrani, Shafaqat Ali
Summary: Cadmium (Cd) contamination is a global concern that seriously threatens human health. Phytoremediation, using spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum L.), can effectively remove or immobilize Cd from contaminated soils. Organic and inorganic amendments, such as farmyard manure (FM), elemental sulphur (S), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), can enhance Cd phytoremediation efficiency. This study compared the effectiveness of different amendments in remediating Cd contaminated soils and found that FM and S treatments resulted in higher biomass, while EDTA treatment increased the bioavailable fraction of Cd and its accumulation in plant tissues. However, the highest dose of EDTA negatively affected biomass production.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Rizwan, Tahir Abbas, Muhammad Ashar Ayub, Asif Naeem, Hesham F. Alharby, Nadiyah M. Alabdallah, Basmah M. Alharbi, Muhammad Javid Qamar, Shafaqat Ali
Summary: This study evaluated the efficiency of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on the growth of wheat in contaminated soils. The results showed that the use of ZnONPs significantly decreased Cd concentrations while increased Zn concentrations in plants, with the effects depending on the doses of nanoparticles and soil textures.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Saleem, Munirah D. Albaqami, Aboud Ahmed Awadh Bahajjaj, Fahim Ahmed, ElSayed Din, Waqas Ul Arifeen, Shafaqat Ali
Summary: In order to meet the increasing energy demands, it is crucial to develop electrochemical materials that can efficiently produce and store energy. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has emerged as a promising choice due to its non-toxicity, low cost, and eco-friendliness, as well as its porosity, large surface area, good mechanical strength, and remarkable transport properties.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Awais Ahmad, Shumila Shaheen, Saadat Majeed, Muhammad Pervaiz, Zohaib Saeed, Umer Younas, Muhammad Sufyan Javed, Rafael Luque, Lalitha Gnanasekaran
Summary: The global energy demand and consumption have increased significantly due to population and economic growth. Investment in solar energy, bioenergy, and cost-effective energy storage devices has gained attention to address energy crises. This review focuses on the potential of nanotechnology in batteries, specifically metal/metalloid-based nanoparticles, due to their exceptional properties.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Faisal Ali, Saira Mehmood, Adnan Ashraf, Aimon Saleem, Umer Younas, Awais Ahmad, Muhammad Pervaiz Bhatti, Gaber E. Eldesoky, Ahmed Muteb Aljuwayid, Mohamed A. Habila, Awais Bokhari, Muhammad Mubashir, Lai Fatt Chuah, Jun Wei Roy Chong, Pau Loke Show
Summary: Remediation of industrial water pollution is an important issue due to its harmful effects. Azo dyes are the major pollutants, while anthraquinone dyes pose a greater threat. This study focuses on the reduction synthesis of Ag-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles for the degradation of dyes. The nanocatalyst showed high degradation efficiency for multiple dyes in industrial effluent.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Correction
Polymer Science
M. Manikandan, E. Manikandan, Razan A. Alshgari, Abdulnasse Mahmoud Karami, Awais Ahmad
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC POLYMERS AND MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
M. Manikandan, E. Manikandan, Razan A. Alshgari, Abdulnasse Mahmoud Karami, Awais Ahmad
Summary: The hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize nickel telluride nanorods (NiTe NRs) using ascorbic acid and cetrimonium bromide as reducing agents. The temperature-dependent magnetic study showed that NiTe NRs exhibited ferromagnetic behavior. The materials obtained had excellent optical limiting properties under 532 nm laser excitation, with a high sensitivity and selectivity when used as an electrode for hydrogen peroxide detection.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC AND ORGANOMETALLIC POLYMERS AND MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
P. Aji Udhaya, Awais Ahmad, M. Meena, M. Abila Jeba Queen, M. Aravind, P. Velusamy, Tahani Mazyad Almutairi, Abdallah. A. . A. . Mohammed, Shafaqat Ali
Summary: The copper ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized using egg white as fuel via a green synthesis route, and their ferromagnetic characteristics, minimal conductivity, and superior electrochemical stability were examined. The XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDAX techniques were used to determine the phase formation, morphological properties, and phase purity of the synthesized nanoparticles. Optical experiments were conducted to study the conduction band and valence band boundaries, and the photocatalytic efficiency of the nanoparticles was evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B dye under visible light. The CuFe2O4 nanoparticles exhibited a higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency compared to nanoparticles synthesized by other chemical routes.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Manar Fawzi Bani Mfarrej, Muhammad Usman, Sidra Anayatullah, Muhammad Rizwan, Hesham F. Alharby, Isam M. Abu Zeid, Nadiyah M. Alabdallah, Shafaqat Ali
Summary: Salt stress is a growing problem for the environment and agriculture, and different sources of iron may offer a solution for remediating salt-affected soils. Fe nanoparticles (FeNPs) and conventional sources of iron were tested on wheat crops grown in normal and salt-affected soils. FeNPs showed significant improvement in dry weights of wheat roots, shoots, and grains in both normal and salt-affected soils compared to other iron sources. FeNPs also enhanced photosynthetic parameters and increased essential nutrients in plants. Further research is needed to explore the potential commercialization of FeNPs.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Temoor Ahmed, Hafiza Ayesha Masood, Muhammad Noman, Arwa Abdulkreem AL-Huqail, Suliman M. S. Alghanem, Muhammad Munem Khan, Sher Muhammad, Natasha Manzoor, Muhammad Rizwan, Xingjiang Qi, Amany H. A. Abeed, Bin Li
Summary: By modulating cellular oxidative repair mechanisms, the use of biogenic silicon nanoparticles can alleviate cadmium stress in rapeseed plants. The treatment with these nanoparticles significantly improved growth parameters, photosynthetic efficiency, and antioxidant enzyme activities in rapeseed plants. Furthermore, the treatment also mitigated the damage caused by cadmium, altered gene expressions, and influenced metal accumulation in the plants.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Madiha Younas, Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Asaf Khan, Khalid Mahmud Hussaini, Rabia Mumtaz, Muhammad Azeem, Tahir Abbas, Muhammad Atif Irshad, Shafaqat Ali
Summary: This study used the traditional chemical (precipitation) approach to synthesize, characterize, and apply silver (AgO2), cerium (CeO2), and copper (CuO2) nanoparticles (NPs) against hepatocellular carcinoma. The nanoparticles were prepared and characterized using advanced instrumental techniques including SEM-EDS, EDX, XRD, FTIR, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of the fabricated NPs was tested on the HepG2 liver cancer cell line. The results showed that the chemically-synthesized NPs had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the hepatic cancer cell line.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mostafa M. Rady, Hesham F. Alharby, El-Sayed M. Desoky, Ahmed R. M. Maray, Ibrahim A. A. Mohamed, Saad M. Howladar, Yasmine H. Abd Elmohsen, Ahmad Faraz, Shafaqat Ali, Abdelsattar AbdelKhalik
Summary: Lemon juice solution (LJS) and citric acid (CiA) can be used as novel phyto-catalysts to alleviate the damage caused by cadmium stress on Phaseolus vulgaris seedlings. Priming seeds in LJS or CiA improves seed germination, root activity, relative water content, membrane stability, chlorophyll content, carotenoids content, and Photosystem II efficiency, while reducing Cd translocation factor and Cd content in roots and shoots. These improvements are associated with increased levels of osmo-regulators, antioxidants, and enzyme-related genes expression.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Aimen Shafique, Riffat Batool, Muhammad Rizwan, Roshan Zameer, Hafsa Arshad, Hongxing Xu, Khairiah Alwutayd, Hamada AbdElgawad, Farrukh Azeem
Summary: Potassium is crucial in the development and stress mechanism of plants. The K+ transport system in China rose was characterized using omics approaches. Several genes related to potassium transport were identified, and it was found that these genes may be involved in response to abiotic stresses.
