Novel nanoplex-mediated plant transformation approach.

Here, a rapid and easy transformation by electroporation technique for gene transfer in plants using cell penetrating amino nanocomplex (nanoplex) has been demonstrated in Nicotiana. Nanoplex was prepared using cell penetrating amino acids (CPAs) such as poly-L-lysine (PLL) and Argenine (Arg), in combination with the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). PLLs-modified nanoplex with zeta potential of 34.2 ± 1.22 mV charge showed 63.3% efficiency for gene transformation in plant cells as compared to 60% when modified with Arg and the zeta potential was found to be 30.0 ± 0.83 mV; whereas, the transformation efficiency without nanoplex was found to be 6.6%. The findings indicate that the zeta potential of positively charged nanocomplex (AuNPs/CPAs/DNA/CPAs) increases the transformation efficiency because of their ability to protect the DNA from electroporation wave and endogenous enzyme damage. Transformation was confirmed by GUS assay and amplification of npt gene. This technique may open up new possibilities of gene transfer in plants, which will enable to produce large number of transgenic plants.

Interaction of copper nanoparticles and an endophytic growth promoter Piriformospora indica with Cajanus cajan.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, agro-bionanotechnology has paved the way towards revolutionizing current practices in the food and agricultural fields. In the present study, the effect of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) alone and in combination with the growth-promoting fungus Piriformospora indica on 2-week-old seedlings of Cajanus cajan was evaluated. Gelatin-coated stable CuNPs were synthesized by the chemical reduction method using hydrazine hydrate as a reducing agent. RESULTS: CuNPs were characterized by using UV-visible spectroscopy, zeta potential measurement and transmission electron microscopy. The nanoparticles were found to be quite spherical with a diameter within the range 40 ± 10 nm. After the application of CuNPs and P. indica to the host plant C. cajan, the vitality of plants was determined using a Handy-PEA (plant efficiency analyzer) instrument. Handy-PEA analysis (which measures chlorophyll a fluorescence) indicated that seedlings inoculated with a combination of CuNPs and P. indica were the healthiest and also showed maximum vitality as compared to seedlings inoculated with CuNPs or P. indica alone. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CuNPs in combination with P. indica can serve as a nanobiofertilizer for enhancement of the growth and productivity of C. cajan. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles performing as biogenic SERS-nanotags for investigation of C26 colon carcinoma cells.

In this work, two classes of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized with the goal to assess their reliability in vitro as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanotags. Mycosynthesized silver nanoparticles (MAgNPs) and phytosynthesized silver nanoparticles (PAgNPs) were produced through environmentally friendly procedures by reduction of silver nitrate with Fusarium oxysporum cell filtrate and Azadirachta indica extract, respectively. Two cell lines, namely C26 murine colon carcinoma cells as example of cancer cells and human immortalized keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) as representative of healthy cell line, were selected for in vitro investigation. The in vitro toxicity studies show that M(P)AgNPs present lower cytotoxic effect on both cell lines as compared with standard citrate coated AgNPs. The internalization of M(P)AgNPs by colon carcinoma cells and structural alterations induced in the morphology of treated cells were analyzed by dark-field (DF) and differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, respectively. The most informative data about the cellular uptake and tracking potential of M(P)AgNPs were provided by scanning Confocal Raman Microscopy (CRM) and multivariate K-means cluster analysis of collected Raman spectra. The analysis reveals the subcellular components and the localization of AgNPs inside the cell via the intrinsic SERS signature of biogenic coating material. The use of unique biological material to perform synthesis, stability, biocompatibility and SERS tagging is relevant both from the point of view of encoding nanoparticles with Raman reporters and further applications in cell investigation via Raman/SERS imaging.

Development of shampoo, soap and ointment formulated by green synthesised silver nanoparticles functionalised with antimicrobial plants oils in veterinary dermatology: treatment and prevention strategies.

Many scientists have focused their research on the role of nanotechnology for the control of human pathogens, but there are also many topical pathogens present in animals, which infect animals and transfer to humans. Topical therapy is extremely important for the management of dermatological condition in animals. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in combination with herbal oils against animal skin infections which may be responsible for causing infections in human beings. Here, the authors synthesised and characterised the AgNPs from Azadirachta indica. The oils were extracted from medicinal plants including Cymbopogon citratus, Cymbopogon martini, Eucalyptus globules, A. indica and Ocimum sanctum and the antifungal and antibacterial activity of plant oils along with AgNPs were evaluated. An excision wound model was used for the study of wound healing activity in rabbits. AgNPs functionalised oil has demonstrated remarkable antimicrobial activity against pathogens present on the skin of animals. The nano-functionalised antimicrobial oils were used in the formulation of shampoo, soap and ointment for veterinary dermatology. Antimicrobial products of plant origin with AgNPs are valuable, safe and have a specific role in controlling diseases. The authors believe that this approach will be a good alternative therapy to solve the continuous antibiotic resistance developed by many bacterial pathogens and will be utilised in various animal contacting areas in medicine.

Bioconjugation of gold and silver nanoparticles synthesized by Fusarium oxysporum and their use in rapid identification of Candida species by using bioconjugate-nano-polymerase chain reaction.

We developed a Bioconjugate-Nano-PCR as a rapid and specific method for identification of Candida species in less time. This requires very low concentration of master mix and DNA sample of Candida albicans in conjugation with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). We report a modification of the PCR assay with nanoparticles that allows the detection of high fidelity amplification of ITS-rDNA and beta (beta) tubulin gene of Candida species from low concentrated DNA in short period. We synthesized and characterized the covalently attached 34 nm (AuNPs) and 35 nm of (AgNPs) and conjugated with C. albicans DNA sample, which is used as a template for PCR. The use of this nanoparticle modified template improves the sensitivity and specificity of the traditional PCR assay with very low cycles which is very helpful in molecular diagnostics and therapeutics. It proves to be an effective method for identification of Candida species with low concentration of DNA. This type of PCR assay is useful for detection of target gene by enhancing the specificity of the target gene and is less time consuming.