Abdulrahman A. Alatar – författare

This book introduces the reader to synthetic or artificial seeds, which refer to alginate encapsulated somatic embryos, vegetative buds or any other micropropagules that can be used as seeds and converted into plantlets after propagating under in vitro or in vivo conditions. Moreover, synthetic seeds retain their potential for regeneration even after low-temperature storage.

The production of synthetic or artificial seeds using micropropagules opens up new vistas in agricultural biotechnology. Encapsulated propagules could be used for in vitro regeneration and mass multiplication at reasonable cost. In addition, these propagules may be used for germplasm preservation of elite plant species and the exchange of plant materials between national and international laboratories. This book offers state-of-the-art findings on methods, applications and prospects of synthetic or artificial seeds.

Plant growth and development is closely dependent on the plant environment, including the wide-spread presence of organic and inorganic xenobiotics and pollutants. Currently, heavy metals are the most common inorganic environmental pollutants and they have pronounced effects and consequences not only for plants, but also for the ecosystem in which the plants form an integral component. It has been suggested that these contaminants accumulate in agricultural crops, thus entering the food chain and posing a significant health risk. Plants growing in polluted sites exhibit altered metabolism, reduced growth, and decreased biomass production. These pollutants adhere to plant roots and exert physical or chemical toxicity and subsequently cell death in plants. Yet, plants have developed various defence mechanisms to counteract the toxicity induced by heavy metals. 

Only detailed study of the processes and mechanisms would allow researchers and students to understand the interactions, responses, and adaptations of plants to these pollutants; however, there are several unresolved issues and challenges regarding the interaction and biological effects of heavy metals. Therefore, this volume provides relevant, state-of-the-art findings on environmental phytotoxicity and the mechanisms of such interactions at the cellular and molecular levels. This volume consists of chapters on relevant topics contributed by different experts or group of experts so as to make available a comprehensive treatise designed to provide an in-depth analysis of heavy metals phytotoxicity.

This book may serve as a reference to scientists, researchers and students in the fields of toxicology, environmental toxicology, phytotoxicology, plant biology, plant physiology, plant biochemistry and plant molecular biology, and especially those interested in heavy metals toxicology.

This edited book is a compilation of findings on the molecular and cellular toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) in animal cell, human cells, invertebrates. The varied selection of test models will provide better understanding about the horizon of NPs toxicity. Interaction of NPs with cells and its organelles can induce toxicological consequences, including transcriptional and translational alterations, DNA damage, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. NPs can get internalized in cells through phagocytosis, macropinocytosis, receptor-mediated endocytosis and passive penetration, which can affect varied cell types.

Readers will be benefited with the compilations on basic and molecular facet of NPs toxicity. The chapters will provide a comprehensive information on the state-of-the-art methodologies. The application of toxicogenomic approaches, which is already established in nanotoxicology, has been given special consideration to unravel the toxicodynamics of nanomaterials. Among these approaches, the high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), which is able to build a complete map of transcriptome across different cell types and perturbations upon NPs exposure has been included. The readers are also introduced to the less studied topic on the adsorption of biomolecules (mainly proteins) on the NPs surface, constituting the so-called “biomolecular corona”.

The book has been designed for scientists engaged in NPs toxicity research. Nonetheless, it should be of interest to a variety of scientific disciplines including marine biology, environmental pollution, genetics, pharmacology, medicine, drug and food material sciences, consumer products. Also, the compilations will be of interest to the environmental watchdogs, federal regulators, risk assessors and the policy makers.

This book provides relevant findings on nanoparticles’ toxicity, their uptake, translocation and mechanisms of interaction with plants at cellular and sub-cellular level. The small size and large specific surface area of nanoparticles endow them with high chemical reactivity and intrinsic toxicity. Such unique physicochemical properties draw global attention of scientists to study potential risks and adverse effects of nanoparticles in the environment. Their toxicity has pronounced effects and consequences for plants and ultimately the whole ecosystem. Plants growing in nanomaterials-polluted sites may exhibit altered metabolism, growth reduction, and lower biomass production. Nanoparticles can adhere to plant roots and exert physicochemical toxicity and subsequently cell death in plants. On the other hand, plants have developed various defense mechanisms against this induced toxicity. This books discusses recent findings as well as several unresolved issues and challengesregarding the interaction and biological effects of nanoparticles. Only detailed studies of these processes and mechanisms will allow researchers to understand the complex plant-nanomaterial interactions.

This book describes various strategies for the synthesis of green nanoparticles using plant extracts and microbes, including the advantages and disadvantages of different methods and their applications.

After discussing strategies for and the potential of green synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles, it highlights the role of the solvent system. The book then explores the stability/toxicity of nanoparticles and the associated-surface engineering techniques for achieving biocompatibility, and examines the antimicrobial efficacy of green nanoparticles with regard to various bacterial pathogens, as well as the underlying cytotoxicity mechanisms.

Lastly, the book addresses the potential applications of various green nanoparticles in cancer theranostics, and reviews a number of plant-mediated nanoparticles as potential pharmaceutical agents. Given its scope, the book will be of interest to all scientists and students wanting to learn more about the synthesis and applicationsof green nanoparticles.