Comparative investigation on chemical and green synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles against chromium (VI) stress eliciting differential physiological, biochemical, and cellular attributes in Helianthus annuus L.

Nanotechnology is a new scientific area that promotes unique concepts to comprehend the optimal mechanics of nanoparticles (NPs) in plants under heavy metal stress. The present investigation focuses on effects of synthetic and green synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs and gTiO2 NPs) against Cr(VI). Green TiO2 NPs have been produced from plant leaf extract (Ricinus communis L.). Synthesis was confirmed employing an array of optical spectroscopic and electron microscopic techniques. Chromium strongly accelerated H2O2 and MDA productions by 227 % and 266 % at highest chromium concentration (60 mg/kg of soil), respectively, and also caused DNA damage, and decline in photosynthesis. Additionally, anomalies were observed in stomatal cells with gradual increment in chromium concentrations. Conversely, foliar applications of TiO2 NPs and gTiO2 NPs considerably mitigated chromium stress. Sunflower plants treated with modest amounts of green TiO2 NPs had significantly better growth index compared to chemically synthesized ones. Principal component analysis highlighted the variations among photosynthetic attributes, oxidative stress markers, and antioxidant defense systems. Notably, gTiO2 supplementation to the Cr(VI) strained plants minimized PC3 production which is a rare report so far. Conclusively, gTiO2 NPs have been identified to be promising nano-based nutrition resource for farming applications.

Concentration-Dependent Layer Exfoliation of Black Phosphorus by Human Serum Albumin and Its Corresponding Biocompatibility Change.

Layered black phosphorus (LBP) is drawing increasing attention because of its excellent potential in biomedical applications. Properties and bioeffects of LBP depend on its layer number (LN). However, the variation of LN during applications, especially in organisms, is largely unknown. Herein, LBP is found to be exfoliated by human serum albumin (HSA) after the formation of protein coronas. The sorption of HSA on LBP exhibits multiple intermediate equilibrium and size-dependent capacity and is distinguished from traditional multilayer sorption. The loss of LN for LBP increases with the increase of HSA concentrations, e.g., 2, 4, and 6 layers of LBP are exfoliated at 35, 135, and 550 mg/L HSA, respectively. The energy distribution shows that at low HSA concentrations, exfoliation is mainly driven by electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions. With middle or high HSA concentrations, exfoliation is mainly driven by p-π or hydrophobic interactions, respectively. Layer exfoliation causes the continuous emergence of an unsaturated LBP surface available for adsorbing further HSA, breaking previous sorption saturations. The complete exfoliation of LBP weakens cytotoxicity and promotes internalization to the A-549 cell line compared with pristine or less exfoliated LBP. This finding unveils the exfoliation mechanism of proteins toward LBP and is of benefit to evaluating application performance and biosafety of LBP.

Capability of phytoremediation of glyphosate in environment by Vulpia myuros.

Glyphosate is an herbicide extensively used worldwide that can remain in the soil. Phytoremediation to decontaminate polluted water or soil requires a plant that can accumulate the target compound. Vulpia myuros is an annual fescue that can be used as a heavy mental phytoremediation strategy. Recently, it has been used to intercrop with tea plant to prohibit the germination and growth of other weeds in tea garden. In order to know whether it can be used an decontaminating glyphosate' plant in water or soil, in this study, glyphosate degradation behavior was investigated in Vulpia myuros cultivated in a hydroponic system. The results showed that the concentration of glyphosate in the nutrient solution decreased from 43.09 µg mL-1 to 0.45 µg mL-1 in 30 days and that 99% of the glyphosate molecules were absorbed by V. myuros. The contents of glyphosate in the roots reached the maximum (224.33 mg kg-1) on day 1 and then decreased. After 3 days, the content of glyphosate in the leaves reached the highest value (215.64 mg kg-1), while it decreased to 156.26 mg kg-1 in the roots. The dissipation dynamics of glyphosate in the whole hydroponic system fits the first-order kinetic model C = 455.76e-0.21 t, with a half-life of 5.08 days. Over 30 days, 80% of the glyphosate was degraded. The contents of the glyphosate metabolite amino methyl phosphoric acid (AMPA), ranged from 0.103 mg kg-1 on day 1-0.098 mg kg-1 on day 30, not changing significantly over time. The Croot/solution, Cleaf/solution and Cleaf/root were used to express the absorption, transfer, and distribution of glyphosate in V. myuros. These results indicated that glyphosate entered into the root system through free diffusion, which was influenced by both the log Kow and the concentration of glyphosate in the nutrient solution, and that glyphosate was either easily transferred to the leaves through the transpiration stream, accumulated, or degraded. The degradation of glyphosate in V. myuros indicated that it has potential as a remediating plant for environmental restoration.

Aloe Vera Extract Gel-Biosynthesized Selenium Nanoparticles Enhance Disease Resistance in Lettuce by Modulating the Metabolite Profile and Bacterial Endophytes Composition.

The use of nanotechnology to suppress crop diseases has attracted significant attention in agriculture. The present study investigated the antifungal mechanism by which aloe vera extract gel-biosynthesized (AVGE) selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) suppressed Fusarium-induced wilt disease in lettuce (Lactuca sativa). AVGE Se NPs were synthesized by utilizing sodium selenite as a Se source and AVGE as a biocompatible capping and reducing agent. Over 21 d, 2.75% of total AVGE Se NPs was dissolved into Se ions, which was more than 8-fold greater than that of bare Se NPs (0.34%). Upon exposure to soil applied AVGE Se NPs at 50 mg/kg, fresh shoot biomass was significantly increased by 61.6 and 27.8% over the infected control and bare Se NPs, respectively. As compared to the infected control, the shoot levels of citrate, isocitrate, succinate, malate, and 2-oxo-glutarate were significantly upregulated by 0.5-3-fold as affected by both Se NPs. In addition, AVGE Se NPs significantly increased the shoot level of khelmarin D, a type of coumarin, by 4.40- and 0.71-fold over infected controls and bare Se NPs, respectively. Additionally, AVGE Se NPs showed greater upregulation of jasmonic acid and downregulation of abscisic acid content relative to bare Se NPs in diseased shoots. Moreover, the diversity of bacterial endophytes was significantly increased by AVGE Se NPs, with the values of Shannon index 40.2 and 9.16% greater over the infected control and bare Se NPs. Collectively, these findings highlight the significant potential of AVGE Se NPs as an effective and biocompatible strategy for nanoenabled sustainable crop protection.

Mechanisms of ZnO Nanoparticles Enhancing Phototransformation of Biologically Derived Organic Phosphorus in Aquatic Environments.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), as the highly efficient photocatalysts, could enhance the transformation of biogenic organic phosphorus (OP) to orthophosphate (PO43-) by photodegradation, accelerating eutrophication. Conversely, orthophosphate can also transform ZnO NPs and thus potentially alter their catalytic and chemical properties. Here, we investigated the transformation mechanisms of three biogenic OP compounds and ZnO NPs under ultraviolet light (UV) illumination: inositol phosphates (IHPs), nucleic acids (DNA), and aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEP). The physicochemical characteristics of the resulting products were systematically characterized. Results show that ZnO NPs accelerated the transformation of IHPs, DNA, and AEP to inorganic phosphorus with the direct photolysis efficiencies of 98.14, 87.68, and 51.76%, respectively. The main component of the precipitates remained ZnO NPs, and Zn3(PO4)2 was identified. Zinc phytate was determined in the ZnO NP-IHP system. 31P NMR and FTIR further confirmed that the aquatic phase contained orthophosphate. Photoproduced hydroxyl (·OH) and superoxide (·O2-) were proved to play a dominant role in the OP photomineralization. Furthermore, ZnO NPs significantly enhanced the intensity of ·OH and ·O2- compared to the OP and Zn2+ solution alone. This work explored the light-induced mineralization processes of OP with ZnO NPs indicating that nanophotocatalysts may play a positive role in transformation of OP species in aquatic environments to further contribute to eutrophication.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Growth Promotion Mechanism of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Induced by Black Phosphorus Nanosheets.

With the extensive production and application of black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets, release to the environment is inevitable, which raises concerns about the fate and effects of this two-dimensional (2D) material on sensitive receptors such as environmental microbes. Although the bacterial toxicity of BP nanosheets has been demonstrated, whether the biological response differs in pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of a microorganism is unknown. Here, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and nonpathogenic Escherichia coli DH5α (E. coli DH5α), Escherichia coli k12 (E. coli k12), and Bacillus tropicus (B. tropicus) are used to comparatively study the microbial toxicity of BP nanosheets. Upon exposure to BP nanosheets across a range of doses from 10 to 100 µg mL-1 for 12 h, EPEC experienced enhanced growth and E. coli DH5α and E. coli k12 were not affected, whereas B. tropicus exhibited clear toxicity. By combining transcriptome sequencing, proteome analysis, and other sensitive biological techniques, the mechanism of BP-induced growth promotion for EPEC was uncovered. Briefly, BP nanosheets activate the antioxidation system to resist oxidative stress, promote protein synthesis and secretion to attenuate membrane damage, enhance the energy supply, and activate growth-related pathways. None of these impacts were evident with nonpathogenic strains. By describing the mechanism of strain-dependent microbial effects, this study not only highlights the potential risks of BP nanosheets to the environment and to human health but also calls attention to the importance of model strain selection when evaluating the hazard and toxicity of emerging nanomaterials.

Biological Effects of Black Phosphorus Nanomaterials on Mammalian Cells and Animals.

The remarkable progress of applied black phosphorus nanomaterials (BPNMs) is attributed to BP's outstanding properties. Due to its potential for applications, environmental release and subsequent human exposure are virtually inevitable. Therefore, how BPNMs impact biological systems and human health needs to be considered. In this comprehensive Minireview, the most recent advancements in understanding the mechanisms and regulation factors of BPNMs' endogenous toxicity to mammalian systems are presented. These achievements lay the groundwork for an understanding of its biological effects, aimed towards establishing regulatory principles to minimize the adverse health impacts.

Therapeutic Delivery of Nanoscale Sulfur to Suppress Disease in Tomatoes: In Vitro Imaging and Orthogonal Mechanistic Investigation.

Nanoscale sulfur can be a multifunctional agricultural amendment to enhance crop nutrition and suppress disease. Pristine (nS) and stearic acid coated (cS) sulfur nanoparticles were added to soil planted with tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) at 200 mg/L soil and infested with Fusarium oxysporum. Bulk sulfur, ionic sulfate, and healthy controls were included. Orthogonal end points were measured in two greenhouse experiments, including agronomic and photosynthetic parameters, disease severity/suppression, mechanistic biochemical and molecular end points including the time-dependent expression of 13 genes related to two S bioassimilation and pathogenesis-response, and metabolomic profiles. Disease reduced the plant biomass by up to 87%, but nS and cS amendment significantly reduced disease as determined by area-under-the-disease-progress curve by 54 and 56%, respectively. An increase in planta S accumulation was evident, with size-specific translocation ratios suggesting different uptake mechanisms. In vivo two-photon microscopy and time-dependent gene expression revealed a nanoscale-specific elemental S bioassimilation pathway within the plant that is separate from traditional sulfate accumulation. These findings correlate well with time-dependent metabolomic profiling, which exhibited increased disease resistance and plant immunity related metabolites only with nanoscale treatment. The linked gene expression and metabolomics data demonstrate a time-sensitive physiological window where nanoscale stimulation of plant immunity will be effective. These findings provide mechanistic understandings of nonmetal nanomaterial-based suppression of plant disease and significantly advance sustainable nanoenabled agricultural strategies to increase food production.

Tracking microplastics biodegradation through CO2 emission: Role of photoaging and mineral addition.

Once microplastics (MPs) enter the terrestrial ecosystem, they may affect the assessment of soil carbon storage and the fluxes of greenhouse gases. This study showed microbial incubation diminished the size and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content of MPs and introduced more oxygen-containing functional groups to MPs potentially through microbial colonization. The aged MPs generally showed higher carbon mineralization ratio (0.010-0.876 %) than the pristine MPs (0.007-0.189 %), which was supported by their higher enzyme activities and DOC content. Interestingly, four model minerals increased the DOC release and CO2 emission from MPs by altering MPs physicochemical properties and shaping the habitat for microbial growth. The higher enzyme activities in mineral artificial soils, except for montmorillonite, served as a potential valid explanation for their higher mineralization. The high CO2 emission but low enzyme activity in montmorillonite artificial soil was due to most DOC being already mineralized. Aging and minerals altered the microflora and enhanced the expression of some C metabolism- and N-related functional genes, which supplemented the cause of higher CO2 and N2O emissions from the corresponding artificial soils. Overall, the increased biomineralization of MPs carbon by minerals was divergent from the protective role of minerals on soil organic carbon.

Selenium content and nutritional quality of Brassica chinensis L enhanced by selenium engineered nanomaterials: The role of surface charge.

Selenium engineered nanomaterials (Se ENMs)-enabled agriculture has developed rapidly, however, the roles of surface charge in the bioavailability and enrichment efficiency of Se ENMs are still unknown. Herein, various Se ENMs of homogenous size (40-60 nm) and different surface charges (3.2 ± 0.7, -29.0 ± 0.4, and 45.5 ± 1.3 mV) were prepared to explore the Se content and nutritional quality in Brassica chinensis L. The results demonstrated that soil application of various Se ENMs (0.05 mg kg-1) displayed different bio-availabilities via modulating the secretion of root exudates (e.g., tartaric, malic, and citric acids), microbial community composition (e.g., Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Paracoccus, Bacillus and Rhizobium) and root cell wall. Negatively charged Se ENMs (Se (-)) showed the highest Se content in the shoot of B. chinensis (3.7-folds). Se (-) also significantly increased yield (156.9%) and improved nutritional quality (e.g., ascorbic acid, amino acids, flavonoids, fatty acids, and tricarboxylic acid) of B. chinensis. Moreover, after harvest, the Se (-) did not lead to significant change in Se residue in soil, but the amount of Se residue in soil was increased by 5.5% after applying the traditional Se fertilizer (selenite). Therefore, this study provides useful information for producing Se-fortified agricultural products, while minimizing environmental risk.

Nanotechnology-enabled biofortification strategies for micronutrients enrichment of food crops: Current understanding and future scope.

Nutrient deficiency in food crops severely compromises human health, particularly in under privileged communities. Globally, billions of people, particularly in developing nations, have limited access to nutritional supplements and fortified foods, subsequently suffering from micronutrient deficiency leading to a range of health issues. The green revolution enhanced crop production and provided food to billions of people but often falls short with respect to the nutritional quality of that food. Plants may assimilate nutrients from synthetic chemical fertilizers, but this approach generally has low nutrient delivery and use efficiency. Further, the overexposure of chemical fertilizers may increase the risk of neoplastic diseases, render food crops unfit for consumption and cause environmental degradation. Therefore, to address these challenges, more research is needed for sustainable crop yield and quality enhancement with minimum use of chemical fertilizers. Complex nutritional disorders and 'hidden hunger' can be addressed through biofortification of food crops. Nanotechnology may help to improve food quality via biofortification as plants may readily acquire nanoparticle-based nutrients. Nanofertilizers are target specific, possess controlled release, and can be retained for relatively long time periods, thus prevent leaching or run-off from soil. This review evaluates the recent literature on the development and use of nanofertilizers, their effects on the environment, and benefits to food quality. Further, the review highlights the potential of nanomaterials on plant genetics in biofortification, as well as issues of affordability, sustainability, and toxicity.

Antibiotic Chlortetracycline Causes Transgenerational Immunosuppression via NF-κB.

The extensive and increasing global use of antibiotics results in the ubiquitous presence of antibiotics in the environment, which has made them "pseudo persistent organic contaminants." Despite numerous studies showing wide adverse effects of antibiotics on organisms, the chronic environmental risk of their exposure is unknown, and the molecular and cellular mechanisms of antibiotic toxicity remain unclear. Here, we systematically quantified transgenerational immune disturbances after chronic parental exposure to environmental levels of a common antibiotic, chlortetracycline (CTC), using zebrafish as a model. CTC strongly reduced the antibacterial activities of fish offspring by transgenerational immunosuppression. Both innate and adaptive immunities of the offspring were suppressed, showing significant perturbation of macrophages and neutrophils, expression of immune-related genes, and other immune functions. Moreover, these CTC-induced immune effects were either prevented or alleviated by the supplementation with PDTC, an antagonist of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), uncovering a seminal role of NF-κB in CTC immunotoxicity. Our results provide the evidence in fish that CTC at environmentally relevant concentrations can be transmitted over multiple generations and weaken the immune defense of offspring, raising concerns on the population hazards and ecological risk of antibiotics in the natural environment.

Multiomics understanding of improved quality in cherry radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. radculus pers) after foliar application of selenium nanomaterials.

A selenium (Se)-nanoenabled agriculture strategy was established in this work to improve crop yield and quality. The results demonstrated that Se engineering nanomaterials (Se ENMs, 10 mg·L-1) were absorbed and translocated in cherry radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. radculus pers) from shoots to taproots after foliar application. RNA-Seq and metabolomic results indicated that the glucolysis, pyruvate and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolism pathways were accelerated by exposure to Se ENMs, resulting in increased production of flavonoids (3.2-fold), amino acids (1.4-fold), and TCA (2.5-fold) compared with the control. Moreover, Se content was enhanced by 5.4 and 2.6 times in pericarp and pulp upon Se ENMs exposure, respectively, which was more efficient (2.2 and 1.1 times) than SeO32- treatment. Additionally, the yield of cherry radish was increased by 67.6% under Se ENMs, whereas SeO32- exposure only led to an increase of 7.4%. Therefore, the application of Se ENMs could reduce the amount of fertilizer used to minimize the environmental impact in agriculture while improve crop production and quality. These findings highlighted the significant potential of Se ENMs-enabled agriculture practices as an eco-friendly and sustainable crop strategy.

Roadmap of environmental health research on emerging contaminants: Inspiration from the studies on engineered nanomaterials.

Research on the environmental health of emerging contaminants is critical to understand their risks before causing severe harm. However, the low environmental concentrations, complex behaviors, and toxicology of emerging contaminants present enormous challenges for researchers. Here, we reviewed the research on the environmental health of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), one of the typical emerging contaminants, to enlighten pathways for future research on emerging contaminants at their initial exploratory stage. To date, some developed pretreatment methods and detection technologies have been established for the determination of ENMs in natural environments. The mechanisms underlying the transfer and transformation of ENMs have been systematically explored in laboratory studies. The mechanisms of ENMs-induced toxicity have also been preliminarily clarified at genetic, cellular, individual, and short food chain levels, providing not only a theoretical basis for revealing the risk change and environmental health effects of ENMs in natural environments but also a methodological guidance for studying environmental health of other emerging contaminants. Nonetheless, due to the interaction of multiple environmental factors and the high diversity of organisms in natural environments, health effects observed in laboratory studies likely differ from those in natural environments. We propose a holistic approach and mesocosmic model ecosystems to systematically carry out environmental health research on emerging contaminants, obtaining data that determine the objectivity and accuracy of risk assessment.

Key knowledge gaps for One Health approach to mitigate nanoplastic risks.

There are increasing concerns over the threat of nanoplastics to environmental and human health. However, multidisciplinary barriers persist between the communities assessing the risks to environmental and human health. As a result, the hazards and risks of nanoplastics remain uncertain. Here, we identify key knowledge gaps by evaluating the exposure of nanoplastics in the environment, assessing their bio-nano interactions, and examining their potential risks to humans and the environment. We suggest considering nanoplastics a complex and dynamic mixture of polymers, additives, and contaminants, with interconnected risks to environmental and human health. We call for comprehensive integration of One Health approach to produce robust multidisciplinary evidence to nanoplastics threats at the planetary level. Although there are many challenges, this holistic approach incorporates the relevance of environmental exposure and multi-sectoral responses, which provide the opportunity to identify the risk mitigation strategies of nanoplastics to build resilient health systems.

Role of Nanoscale Hydroxyapatite in Disease Suppression of Fusarium-Infected Tomato.

The present study investigated the mechanisms by which large- and small-sized nanoscale hydroxyapatite (nHA) suppressed Fusarium-induced wilt disease in tomato. Both nHA sizes at 9.3 mg/L (low) and 46.5 mg/L (high dose) phosphorus (P) were foliar-sprayed on Fusarium-infected tomato leaf surfaces three times. Diseased shoot mass was increased by 40% upon exposure to the low dose of large-sized nHA compared to disease controls. Exposure to both nHA sizes significantly elevated phenylalanine ammonialyase activity and total phenolic content in Fusarium-infected shoots by 30-80% and 40-68%, respectively. Shoot salicylic acid content was also increased by 10-45%, suggesting the potential relationship between antioxidant and phytohormone pathways in nHA-promoted defense against fungal infection. Exposure to the high dose of both nHA sizes increased the root P content by 27-46%. A constrained analysis of principal coordinates suggests that high dose of both nHA sizes significantly altered the fatty acid profile in diseased tomato. Particularly, the diseased root C18:3 content was increased by 28-31% in the large-sized nHA treatments, indicating that nHA remodeled the cell membrane as part of defense against Fusarium infection. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the important role of nHA in promoting disease suppression for the sustainable use of nHA in nanoenabled agriculture.

Potential application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles to improve the nutritional quality of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.).

TiO2 nanoparticles (nTiO2) have been widely used in many disciplines. However, whether they can be used to improve crops growth and nutritional quality is unknown. In this study, coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) was treated with 0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/L nTiO2 to evaluate their possible benefit to plant growth and nutritional quality under hydroponic conditions. Our observations showed that 50 mg/L nTiO2 only slightly but insignificantly increased the root and shoot fresh biomass by 13.2 % and 4.1 %, respectively, relative to the control. nTiO2 at this level promoted shoot K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and B accumulation, while spatial distribution of K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn in coriander leaves was not affected. No nTiO2 internalization or translocation to shoots occurred. 400 mg/L nTiO2 significantly reduced root fresh biomass by 15.8 % and water content by 6.7 %. Moreover, this high dose induced root cell membrane wrinkling, attributable to their aggregation and adsorption on root surfaces. At 100-400 mg/L, antioxidant defense systems (SOD, CAT and APX) in plant were triggered to alleviate oxidative stress. At an appropriate dose (50 mg/L), nTiO2 can improve nutrient quality of edible tissues without exerting toxicity to plant or posing health risk to consumers.

Nanotechnology as a new sustainable approach for controlling crop diseases and increasing agricultural production.

Climate change will negatively affect crop production by exacerbating the incidence of disease and decreasing the efficacy of conventional approaches to disease control. Nanotechnology is a promising new strategy for plant disease management that has many advantages over conventional products and approaches, such as better efficacy, reduced input requirements, and lower eco-toxicity. Studies on crop plants using various nanomaterials (NMs) as protective agents have produced promising results. This review focuses on the use of NMs in disease management through three different mechanisms: (i) as antimicrobial agents; (ii) as biostimulants that induce plant innate immunity; and (iii) as carriers for active ingredients such as pesticides, micronutrients, and elicitors. The potential benefits of nanotechnology are considered, together with the role that NMs might play in future disease management and crop adaptation measures.

Impact of Food Emulsions on the Bioaccessibility of Hydrophobic Pesticide Residues in Co-Ingested Natural Products: Influence of Emulsifier and Dietary Fiber Type.

In the typical Western diet, fruits and vegetables are often consumed with food products that exist as oil-in-water emulsions, such as creams, dressings, and sauces. Studies have shown that coingestion of fruits and vegetables with emulsions can increase the bioavailability of beneficial lipophilic bioactive agents, such as nutraceuticals or vitamins. Agricultural produce, however, may also be contaminated with low levels of detrimental lipophilic agents, such as hydrophobic pesticides. We therefore examined the impact of coingesting a common agricultural product (tomatoes) with model food emulsions on the bioaccessibility of a hydrophobic pesticide (chlorpyrifos). The impact of emulsifier types (phospholipids, whey protein, Tween 80) and dietary fiber types (xanthan, chitosan, ß-glucan) on the bioaccessibility of the pesticide was measured using a simulated gastrointestinal model. Chlorpyrifos bioaccessibility depended on the type of emulsifier used to formulate the emulsions: phospholipids > Tween 80 > whey protein. Dietary fiber type also influenced pesticide bioaccessibility by an amount that depended on the nature of the emulsifier used. Overall, our results suggest that the bioaccessibility of undesirable pesticides on fruits and vegetables will depend on the nature of the emulsions they are consumed with.

Transformation and Speciation Analysis of Silver Nanoparticles of Dietary Supplement in Simulated Human Gastrointestinal Tract.

Knowledge of the physicochemical properties of ingestible silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is essential for assessing their bioavailability, bioactivity, and potential health risks. The gastrointestinal fate of AgNPs and silver ions from a commercial dietary supplement was therefore investigated using a simulated human GIT. In the mouth, no dissolution or aggregation of AgNPs occurred, which was attributed to the neutral pH and the formation of biomolecular corona, while the silver ions formed complexes with biomolecules (Ag-biomolecule). In the stomach, aggregation of AgNPs did not occur, but extensive dissolution was observed due to the low pH and the presence of Cl-. In the fed state (after meal), 72% AgNPs (by mass) dissolved, with 74% silver ions forming Ag-biomolecule and 26% forming AgCl. In the fasted state (before meal), 76% AgNPs dissolved, with 82% silver ions forming Ag-biomolecule and 18% forming AgCl. A biomolecular corona around AgNPs, comprised of mucin with multiple sulfhydryl groups, inhibited aggregation and dissolution of AgNPs. In the small intestine, no further dissolution or aggregation of AgNPs occurred, while the silver ions existed only as Ag-biomolecule. These results provide useful information for assessing the bioavailability of ingestible AgNPs and their subsequently potential health risks, and for the safe design and utilization of AgNPs in biomedical applications.