Biosynthesis and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Leaf Extract of Senecio chrysanthemoides.

Nanotechnology has recently appeared as an important study subject in modern material sciences. Greener synthesis of nanoparticles has gained the attention of many scientists because of its integral characteristics such as effectiveness, eco-friendly, and low cost. In the present study by following the green synthesis approach, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were formed for the very first time by using Senecio chrysanthemoides leaf extract as a reducing agent. The UV-Vis spectrophotometer was used to study the synthesized ZnO NPs, and the specific peak was found to be at 349 nm. The characteristic Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) peak was found to be at 449 cm-1 which displays the peak of ZnO molecules. The surface morphology of the ZnO NPs was determined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) study showed that the synthesized ZnO NPs are present at the weight percentage of 66.38%. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrum confirmed the hexagonal phase wurtzite structure, with the average particle size of 31 nm, and demonstrated the crystalline structure of ZnO NPs. Additionally, to all these experiments, we compared the anti-inflammatory properties of biogenic ZnO NPs to a standard drug. Biosynthesized ZnO NPs have revealed an effective anti-inflammatory activity at a higher concentration (100 mL-1) and showed 73% inhibition in comparison with diclofenac sodium drug. Zinc oxide was shown to be compatible with diclofenac sodium, according to the results. The ZnO NPs produced using the greener synthesis process have the potential to be used in a broad range of fields and also used as a good anti-inflammatory agent.

Subcellular dynamics studies of iron reveal how tissue-specific distribution patterns are established in developing wheat grains.

Understanding the mechanisms of iron trafficking in plants is key to enhancing the nutritional quality of crops. Because it is difficult to image iron in transit, we currently have an incomplete picture of the route(s) of iron translocation in developing seeds and how the tissue-specific distribution is established. We have used a novel approach, combining iron-57 (57 Fe) isotope labelling and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), to visualize iron translocation between tissues and within cells in immature wheat grain, Triticum aestivum. This enabled us to track the main route of iron transport from maternal tissues to the embryo through the different cell types. Further evidence for this route was provided by genetically diverting iron into storage vacuoles, with confirmation provided by histological staining and transmission electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM-EDS). Almost all iron in both control and transgenic grains was found in intracellular bodies, indicating symplastic rather than apoplastic transport. Furthermore, a new type of iron body, highly enriched in 57 Fe, was observed in aleurone cells and may represent iron being delivered to phytate globoids. Correlation of the 57 Fe enrichment profiles obtained by NanoSIMS with tissue-specific gene expression provides an updated model of iron homeostasis in cereal grains with relevance for future biofortification strategies.

Enhanced Ion Yields Using High Energy Water Cluster Beams for Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Analysis and Imaging.

Previous studies have shown that the use of a 20 keV water cluster beam as a primary beam for the analysis of organic and bio-organic systems resulted in a 10-100 times increase in positive molecular ion yield for a range of typical analytes compared to C60 and argon cluster beams. This resulted in increased sensitivity to important lipid molecules in the bioimaging of rat brain. Building on these studies, the present work compares 40 and 70 keV water cluster beams with cluster beams composed of pure argon, argon and 10%CO2, and pure CO2. First, as previously, we show that for E/nucleon about 0.3 eV/nucleon water and nonwater containing cluster beams generate very similar ion yields, but below this value, the water beams yields of BOTH negative and positive "molecular" ions increase, in many cases reaching a maximum in the <0.2 region, with yield increases of ∼10-100. Ion fragment yields in general decrease quite dramatically in this region. Second, for water cluster beams at a constant E/nucleon, "molecular" ion yield increases with beam energy and hence cluster size due to increased sputter yield (ionization probability is constant). Third, as a consequence of the increased ion yield and the improved focusability using high-energy cluster beams, imaging in the 1 µm spatial resolution region is demonstrated on HeLa cells and rat brain tissue, monitoring molecules that were previously difficult to detect with other primary beams. Finally, the suggestion that the secondary ion emission zone has quasi-aqueous character seems to be sustained.

Mass spectrometric imaging of brain tissue by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry--How do polyatomic primary beams C60⁺, Ar2000⁺, water-doped Ar2000⁺ and (H2O)6000⁺ compare?

RATIONALE: To discover the degree to which water-containing cluster beams increase secondary ion yield and reduce the matrix effect in time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) imaging of biological tissue. METHODS: The positive SIMS ion yields from model compounds, mouse brain lipid extract and mouse brain tissue together with mouse brain images were compared using 20 keV C60(+), Ar2000(+), water-doped Ar2000(+) and pure (H2O)6000(+) primary beams. RESULTS: Water-containing cluster beams where the beam energy per nucleon (E/nucleon) ≈ 0.2 eV are optimum for enhancing ion yields dependent on protonation. Ion yield enhancements over those observed using Ar2000(+) lie in the range 10 to >100 using the (H2 O)6000 (+) beam, while with water-doped (H2O)Ar2000(+) they lie in the 4 to 10 range. The two water-containing beams appear to be optimum for tissue imaging and show strong evidence of increasing yields from molecules that experience matrix suppression under other primary beams. CONCLUSIONS: The application of water-containing primary beams is suggested for biological SIMS imaging applications, particularly if the beam energy can be raised to 40 keV or higher to further increase ion yield and enhance spatial resolution to ≤1 µm.