Biological Applications Research Articles

A INNOVATE APPROACH TO METAL REMOVAL IN CRYOGELS USING ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL IN A FIXED BED SYSTEM

The use of chelating agents in affinity chromatography poses significant challenges due to their tendency to form chemical bonds with metals. During the purification process, these agents can dissociate from the matrix, potentially contaminating the purified biomolecule and rendering it unsuitable for therapeutic or other biological applications. This study introduces an innovative approach for the electroadsorption of Cu²⁺ ions onto polyacrylamide (PAam) cryogels using a fixed-bed system under the application of electrical potential. This method reduces the risk of metal contamination by eliminating the need for chelating agents commonly used in immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC). The cryogels demonstrated excellent structural integrity, retaining their shape after compression and rehydration. Electroadsorption experiments revealed that a minimum voltage of 3V was required to establish effective removal sites for Cu²⁺ ions, with a maximum removal capacity of approximately 19 mg/g (PAam)". At higher voltages (3V and 5V), the electroadsorbed ions were efficiently desorbed using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution. The distinct d⁹ electron configuration of Cu²⁺ makes it particularly prone to forming coordinated bonds with the lone pairs of N present in the PAam structure. The study also highlights the impact of flow rates on saturation times, with faster rates leading to quicker saturation without compromising removal efficiency. These results demonstrate that electroadsorption in PAam cryogels is a promising alternative to IMAC for metal ion purification in chromatographic applications, providing a cleaner and more cost-effective solution.

Comparative investigation of structural properties and biological applications of chemical and biogenic synthesis of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles using Passiflora edulis.

Over the last decade, the environmental and wellness cost of antibiotic drug resistance to the societies have been astounding and require urgent attention Metal oxide nanomaterials have been achieved a pull-on deal with its entire applications in biological and photocatalytic applications. The present study conducts a comparative investigation on chemical and biogenic synthesis of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles aimed at enhancing their efficacy in their applications. The plant extract of Passiflora edulis act as a reducing and capping properties offering a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative. ZrO2 nanoparticles have drawn a lot of scrutiny owing to their potential uses in numerous fields, including medicine and environmental remediation. Thereby produced ZrO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by employing sustainable techniques, and their successful production and their uses were confirmed by characterization by XRD, FTIR, UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, EDAX, PL, TEM, XPS, TGA and Raman spectroscopy. The zirconia nanoparticles synthesized using chemical and green methods exhibited ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption maxima at 221 and 224nm, respectively, demonstrating their synthesis. X-ray diffraction research revealed that the nanoparticles possess a tetragonal shape, with mean particle sizes of 11nm and 7nm, respectively. The synthesized ZrO2 nanoparticles (ZrO2 and Ext-ZrO2) exhibited inhibitory effects against Gram-positive strains (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative germs (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aureus), with zones of inhibition measuring (12, 8mm), (8, 11mm), (12, 15mm), and (7, 12mm) correspondingly. The antitumor activity of ZrO2 and Ext-ZrO2 was assessed using human colon cancer cells (HT29). The MTT assay was employed to assess the cytotoxicity of ZrO2 nanospheres on the HT-29 cell line at various concentrations (7.5, 15.6, 31.2, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500μg/ml). The HT29 cell line exhibits a reduction in cell viability from 96% to 34% when the concentration of ZrO2 nanoparticles escalates. The photocatalytic activity of ZrO2 and Ext-ZrO2 exhibited absorbance deterioration at around 445nm, resulting in the discoloration of Rh B dye under UV light irradiation after 100min, achieving maximal degradation rates of 96% and 99%, respectively. Consequently, the synthesized ZrO2 and Ext-ZrO2 may be utilized in antibiotic formulation, pharmaceutical sectors, and photocatalysts.

Two-stage continuous cultivation of microalgae overexpressing cytochrome P450 improves nitrogen and antibiotics removal from livestock and poultry wastewater.

Improper treatment of livestock and poultry wastewater (LPWW) rich in ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) and antibiotics leads to eutrophication, and contributes to the risk of creating drug-resistant pathogens. The design-build-test-learn strategy was used to engineer a continuous process using Chlorella vulgaris to remove NH4-N and antibiotics. The optimized system removed NH4-N at a rate of 306mg/L/d, degraded 99% of lincomycin, and reduced the hydraulic retention time to 4days. The physiological, metabolic, and genetic mechanisms used by microalgae to tolerate LPWW, remove NH4-N, and degrade antibiotics were elucidated. A new cytochrome P450 enzyme important for NH4-N and antibiotic removal was identified. Finally, application of synthetic biology improved the NH4-N removal rate to 470mg/L/d, which is the highest removal rate using microalgae reported to date. This research contributes to the mechanistic understanding of wastewater detoxification by microalgae, and the goal of achieving a circular bioeconomy for nutrient and water recycling.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Lupeol: A Review of Its Mechanisms, Clinical Applications, and Advances in Bioavailability Enhancement.

Lupeol, a naturally occurring triterpenoid, has garnered significant attention for its diverse range of biological activities and potential therapeutic applications. This comprehensive review delves into the various aspects of lupeol, including its sources, extraction methods, chemical characteristics, pharmacokinetics, safety evaluation, mechanisms of action, and applications in disease treatment. We highlight the compound's unique carbon skeleton and its role in inflammation regulation, antioxidant activity, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects. The review also underscores lupeol's potential in cancer therapy, cardiovascular protection, metabolic disease management, and wound healing. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and future perspectives of lupeol's clinical application, emphasizing the need for further research to improve its bioavailability and explore its full therapeutic potential. The review concludes by recognizing the significance of lupeol in drug development and healthcare, with expectations for future breakthroughs in medical applications.

Multifaceted roles of plant-derived bioactive polysaccharides: A review of their biological functions, delivery, bioavailability, and applications within the food and pharmaceutical sectors.

Plant-derived bioactive polysaccharides (PDBPs), versatile polymers originating from various botanical sources, exhibit a spectrum of biological functionalities crucial for human health. This review delves into the multifaceted roles of these bioactive compounds, elucidating their immune-boosting properties, antioxidant prowess, anti-inflammatory capabilities, and contributions to gut health. Amidst their pivotal roles, the efficiency of PDBPs delivery and bioavailability in the human system stands as a central determinant of their efficacy and utilization. This review paper extensively and systematically examines the diverse biological activities, such as immunomodulatory effects, delivery mechanisms like microencapsulation, and promising applications of PDBPs within the realms of both food (functional foods and nutraceuticals) and pharmaceutical (antimicrobial agents and anti-inflammatory drugs) sectors. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive overview of the classification, sources, and structural diversity of these polysaccharides, highlighting various identification techniques and rheological considerations. Moreover, the review addresses critical safety and regulatory concerns alongside global legislation about plant bioactive polysaccharides, envisaging a broader landscape for their utilization. Through this synthesis, we aim to underscore the holistic significance of PDBPs and their potential to revolutionize nutritional and therapeutic paradigms.

Innovative separation of melittin from bee venom using micro-free-flow electrophoresis: An experimental and theoretical study.

Bee venom consists of more than 50% melittin (MLT), which has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Bee venom also contains toxic components such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and hyaluronidase (HYA), which cause allergic reactions, so the toxic components must be removed to use MLT. In previous studies, analytical methods were used to separate MLT. This study used micro-free flow electrophoresis (μFFE) for MLT separation. This separation was simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and molecular dynamics simulation (MD). The glass chip was fabricated using the wet etched method, and MLT separation was investigated experimentally. The CFD results demonstrated that MLT was separated from PLA2 and HYA in less than 3min, and MLT and toxic components took different paths in the channel. The operating conditions, such as the sample flow rate, buffer flow rate, electric field strength, and channel dimensions, were optimized during the simulation. The MD results showed that MLT's conformation does not change the separation process. MD simulation with an atomistic resolution could give us more accurate results of molecular interactions. Also, MLT separation was performed on a glass chip, adding to the precision of the process. The channel outputs were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). MLT separation using μFFE was performed for the first time. The results indicated that melittin was purified 90% in this separation, and PLA2 was rejected by 90%. The results indicated that, for the first time, the separation of MLT from bee venom using μFFE could be achieved with a high recovery rate, thereby demonstrating its potential for biological applications. This separation in less than 3min has higher yield and purity than analytical methods such as HPLC.

Perspective on the applications of terahertz imaging in skin cancer diagnosis

Applications of terahertz (THz) imaging technologies have advanced significantly in the disciplines of biology, medical diagnostics, and non- destructive testing in the past several decades. Significant progress has been made in THz biomedical imaging, allowing for the label-free diagnosis of malignant tumors. Terahertz frequencies, which lie between those of the microwave and infrared, are highly sensitive to water concentration and are significantly muted by water. Terahertz radiation does not cause ionization of biological tissues because of its low photon energy. Recently, terahertz spectra, including spectroscopic investigations of cancer, have been reported at an increasing rate due to the growing interest in their biological applications sparked by these unique features. To improve cancer diagnosis with terahertz imaging, an appropriate differentiation technique is required to increased blood supply and localized rise in tissue water content that commonly accompany the presence of malignancy. Terahertz imaging has been found to benefit from structural alterations in afflicted tissues. This study provides an overview of terahertz technology and briefly discusses the use of terahertz imaging techniques in the detection of skin cancer. Research into the promise and perils of terahertz imaging will also be discussed.

Microfluidic fractionation of microplastics, bacteria and microalgae with induced-charge electro-osmotic eddies.

Fractionation of microalgal cells has important applications in producing pharmaceuticals and treating diseases. Multiple types of microalgal cells generally coexist in the oceans or lakes and are easily contaminated by microplastics and bacteria. Therefore, it is of paramount significance to develop an effective fractionation approach for microalgal cells for biological applications. Counter-rotating induced-charge electro-osmotic (ICEO) eddies present unique advantages in separating microalgal cells for flexible electrode extension fashion and profile regulation manner. Enthused by these, we proposed a contact-free microfluidic approach for the fractionation of microplastics, bacteria, and microalgae with extensible counter-rotating ICEO eddies. Firstly, we investigated the flow-field distribution actuated by counter-rotating ICEO eddies, the influence of working parameters on the fluid velocity, and the effect of particle sizes and charges on particle separation. Secondly, depending on the investigation of the movement of microparticles and microalgal cells, we explored synthetic effects of flow rate, voltage, and frequency on the fractionation of microalgal cells from microplastics with an efficiency of about 100%. Thirdly, this method was used to remove the bacteria for pure Dunaliella salina with a purity of about 95.24%. Fourthly, this approach was engineered in the fractionation of Diatoms, Chlorella, and Dunaliella salina, and the influence of voltage and frequency on the purity of microalgae was studied. Finally, we proposed a multi-stage separation of microalgal cells with extended counter-rotating ICEO eddies and obtained an efficiency of 91.00% in the first stage and a purity of 91.55% and 90.48% in the second stage. This contact-free method holds good potential in the selection of target microalgal cells to address the tricky issues of chronic wound treatment with the advantage of flexible electrode extension fashion and profile regulation manner.

Investigating the design characteristics and parameter laws of bird-like flapping-wing aerial vehicles from the perspective of scaling

Bird-like flapping-wing aerial vehicles (BFAVs) represent a significant advancement in the application of bird biology to aircraft design, with scaling analysis serving as an effective tool for identifying this design process. From the perspective of aviation designers, this paper systematically organizes the scaling laws of birds that are closely related to the design of BFAVs. An intriguing topic further explored is the comparison between birds and BFAVs from the standpoint of scaling, along with an examination of the differences in relevant design parameters. This analysis aims to enhance communication between biologists and engineers, ultimately fostering the development of improved bionic systems. By introducing the concept of periodic average angular velocity, both frequency and amplitude are uniformly considered, providing a clearer explanation of the design characteristics of BFAVs. Finally, a method for establishing the initial parameters based on the scaling laws of BFAVs is proposed, and its effectiveness is validated through design cases, offering a novel approach for the development of new prototypes.

Multiplexing Label-Free Polymeric Nanocarriers via Antipolymer Antibodies.

Recent examples of immune responses directed against the synthetic polymer poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) have led to the development of biocompatible polymers, which are viewed as promising candidates to act as surrogate materials for use in biological applications, such as hydrophilic poly(2-oxazoline)s (POx). Despite this, the characterization of critical aspects of the immune response against these emerging materials is sparse, in part because no known monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against this family of synthetic material have been reported. To advance the understanding of such responses, we report the successful isolation and characterization of hybridoma-derived mAbs with excellent specificity for different POx species and notable selectivity for highly branched polymer architectures over linear systems. In conjunction with established mAbs targeted against PEG, we show that these antibodies can be employed for sensitive in vivo multiplex-detection of label-free polymer therapeutics based on the specificity of the polymer-antibody binding. This approach enables scalable therapeutic drug monitoring of multiple polymer therapeutics within a single animal, simultaneously.

Studying the Properties of Water Activated by Hybrid Plasma for Biological and Medical Applications

Studying the Properties of Water Activated by Hybrid Plasma for Biological and Medical Applications

Copper(II) complexes of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde Schiff bases: synthesis, in vitro activity and computational studies.

Due to the divers biological applications of Cu(II) complexes, we in this study reports the various Cu(II) complexes. The study aims to synthesize and assess new Cu(II) complexes as powerful β-glucuronidase inhibitors. Five Schiff base ligands and their complexes were synthesized, characterized, and screened against β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity. In the series, compounds 3e, 3c, 2b, and 2c ascribed powerful inhibition ranging from (IC50 = 3.0 ± 0.7 µM) to (IC50 = 19.2 ± 0.8 µM). A precise and particular arrangement of atoms is suggested by the triclinic p-1 space group and the existence of a single molecule in an asymmetric unit, which are indispensable for the reactivity as well as the stability of the compounds. The analysis of the Hirshfeld surface provides information about the hydrogen intermolecular and π-π interactions. Based on molecular docking, binding potency increasing by complexation 3a-e compared to ligands 2a-e as well as reference Saccharic acid and uronic isofagomine inhibitor, suggesting that it may be a potent inhibitor of these receptors. The work recognizes latent active compounds for novel β-glucoronidase inhibitors, by further support these may be harnessed for the development of potent drugs.

A State-Of-Art Review on One-Step Microwave Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and their Biological Applications

A State-Of-Art Review on One-Step Microwave Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and their Biological Applications

Spatiotemporal Interactive Modeling of Event-Based Dynamic Networks

Event-based dynamic networks exist in a wide range of areas, including traffic, biological, and social applications. Such a network consists of interaction event sequences over different locations, where each event may trigger or influence a series of subsequent events under certain intrinsic spatial structure because of their geographical and semantic proximities. Such influence patterns and triggering motivations reflect the nature and semantics of human/object behaviors in the network. Thus, modeling event-based dynamic networks properly is critically important. This article proposes a spatiotemporal interactive Hawkes process (SIHP) that describes how a series of events occurs and models the rate of interaction events between any pair of nodes on the network explicitly with the information from related historical events as well as geographical and semantic neighboring nodes. The proposed SIHP can not only learn the patterns of influence from historical interaction events on later ones, but can also understand the network dynamics by fully considering spatial structure knowledge. Specifically, we incorporate prior knowledge of spatial structure as a graph and design graph regularization in the SIHP, where model parameters are estimated by designing an alternating direction method of multiplier (ADMM) framework. Numerical experiments and a real case study on New York yellow taxi data validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Proteome differences of dental stem cells between permanent and deciduous teeth by data-independent acquisition proteomics.

Dental pulp stem cells hold significant prospects for tooth regeneration and repair. However, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular differences between dental pulp stem cells (DPSC, from permanent teeth) and stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED, from deciduous teeth) remains elusive, which is crucial for optimizing their therapeutic potential. To address this gap, we employed a novel data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics approach to compare the protein expression profiles of DPSC and SHED. Based on nano-LC-MS/MS DIA proteomics, we identified over 7,000 proteins in both cell types. By comparing their expression levels, 209 differentially expressed proteins were identified. Subsequent Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses, along with protein-protein interaction network construction, revealed significant metabolic differences and key regulatory nodes. DPSC exhibited significantly higher expression of proteins belonging to the NDUFB family, SMARC family, RPTOR and TLR3. These proteins are known to be involved in critical cellular processes such as mitochondrial energy metabolism, mTOR-related autophagy pathway, and innate immune response. Conversely, SHED displayed elevated expression of AKR1B family, which participated in glycerolipid metabolism and adipogenic differentiation, PRKG1, MGLL and UQCRB proteins associated with thermogenesis. These findings highlight the specific proteomic landscape of DPSC and SHED, suggesting their distinct biological roles and potential applications.

Skeletal Editing through Cycloaddition and Subsequent Cycloreversion Reactions.

ConspectusSkeletal editing, which involves adding, deleting, or substituting single or multiple atoms within ring systems, has emerged as a transformative approach in modern synthetic chemistry. This innovative strategy addresses the ever-present demand for developing new drugs and advanced materials by enabling precise modifications of molecular frameworks without disrupting essential functional complexities. Ideally performed at late stages of synthesis, skeletal editing minimizes the need for the cost- and labor-intensive processes often associated with de novo synthesis, thus accelerating the discovery and optimization of complex molecular architectures. While current efforts in skeletal editing predominantly focus on monatomic-scale modifications, editing molecules through cycloaddition followed by cycloreversion offers a unique strategy to manipulate molecular frameworks on a double-atomic scale. This introduces new possibilities for chemical transformations and enables transformations such as double-atom transmutation, formal single-atom transmutation, and atom insertion. Early examples of such skeletal editing processes often relied on the inherent high reactivity of the substrates, which needed to be sufficiently active to undergo cycloaddition and possess good leaving groups for the subsequent fragmentation (cycloreversion) step. Recently, however, the structural editing of relatively inert substrates has become achievable through substrate activation strategies designed to enhance either the cycloaddition or subsequent cycloreversion step.Along these lines, we recently developed a dearomative process for activating pyridines. In a simple high-yielding chemical operation, oxazinopyridines are readily obtained as activated dearomatized isolable intermediates. This method enabled us to achieve the transformation of pyridines into benzenes and naphthalenes through a cycloaddition/cycloreversion sequence. In this Account, related recent contributions from other research groups are highlighted as well, alongside early examples involving tetrazines, triazines, diazines, and other similar heterocycles as cycloaddition reaction partners. By offering a streamlined route to modify molecular structures, these approaches have demonstrated their ability to interconvert arenes and heteroarenes and have shown significant potential for late-stage editing applications as well as advancing drug discovery and the synthesis of bioactive molecules.In the future, these approaches will undoubtedly see broader development in the field of skeletal editing. New strategies for substrate activation should be devised to enable not only the incorporation of nitrogen and other heteroatoms into rings─rather than their deletion─but also to achieve ring contraction and expand the application of this strategy to non-aromatic rings. We hope that the advancements summarized in this Account will inspire chemists to explore and expand skeletal editing methodologies. By pushing the boundaries of these approaches, researchers can unlock new opportunities for constructing and modifying complex molecular frameworks, eventually paving the way for innovative applications in chemistry, biology, and materials science.

Investigating the Potential for Label‐Free Detection of Cell Apoptosis through Terahertz Nano‐Metasurfaces

A label‐free method to monitor apoptosis in cells using a terahertz (THz) metasurface‐based biosensing platform is demonstrated. Apoptosis, a crucial process for eliminating damaged cells and preventing cancer, often dysregulates in cancer, leading to tumor formation. Measuring apoptosis directly in cells’ natural environment without labeling is a significant aim in cell biology. The platform leverages THz metasurfaces to detect H2O2‐induced apoptosis noninvasively, focusing on transmittance changes and frequency shifts to comprehensively analyze cellular dielectric properties. HEK293 cells treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a natural inducer of oxidation stress across diverse cell types, are used to validate the system, demonstrating precise sensitivity to apoptosis without the need for chemical labeling or invasive treatments. The results show a clear correlation between apoptosis, measured via Cell Counting Kit‐8, and terahertz transmittance spectra. This approach offers a powerful combination of label‐free, nondestructive, and further real‐time apoptosis monitoring in cellular systems, highlighting its potential for diverse applications in cell biology and therapeutic research.

Bioinspired Conductivity-Enhanced, Self-Healing, and Renewable Silk Fibroin Hydrogel for Wearable Sensors with High Sensitivity.

The development of silk fibroin-based hydrogels with excellent biocompatibility, aqueous processability, and facile controllability in structure is indeed an exciting advancement for biological research and strain sensor applications. However, silk fibroin-based hydrogel strain sensors that combine high conductivity, high stretchability, reusability, and high selectivity are still desired. Herein, we report a simple method for preparing double-network hydrogels including silk fibroin and poly(acrylic acid) sodium-polyacrylate (PAA-PAAS) networks. The conformation and aggregate of silk fibroin could be facilely tuned by both ions and pH resulting from the PAA-PAAS network. The optimized hydrogel exhibits intriguing properties, such as high conductivity (3.67 S/m) and transparency, high stretchability (1186%) with a tensile strength of 110 kPa, good adhesion properties, reversible compression, self-healing, and high sensitivity (GF = 10.71). This hydrogel strain sensor can detect large-scale and small human movements in real time, such as limb movements, heartbeats, and pulse. Additionally, its ability to adsorb water and recover effectiveness after losing water from air with 90% humidity along with the capability for low-temperature motion detection facilitated by ethylene glycol further enhance its practical utility. This work offers a novel and simple approach to design flexible bionic strain sensors.

Nancy Jane Rothwell: Brain inflammation and the path to leadership

Breaking barriers in both the lab and the boardroom, Dame Nancy Rothwell has shaped modern British science in ways few others have. Beginning her research journey at the University of London, she made a pivotal move to the University of Manchester in 1987 – a decision that would forge an extraordinary partnership spanning over three decades. During her early career, she followed her scientific curiosity into the intricate world of fat cells with groundbreaking research that cracked open our understanding of how the body regulates its weight through thermogenesis and brown fat metabolism, providing crucial insights into obesity and cachexia. Then, in a bold pivot that would define the next phase of her career at Manchester, she turned her attention to the brain's inflammatory response in stroke and other neurological conditions, conducting pioneering research that bridged the gap between basic biology and clinical applications. Her scientific brilliance earned her Fellowship in the Royal Society, marking her place among Britain's most elite scientists. Her deep connection with Manchester deepened further when, without planning it, she found herself making history in 2010 as the University's first female President and Vice-Chancellor, steering one of Britain's largest universities through fourteen years of growth and transformation until 2024. Her leadership style, marked by the same curiosity and determination that drove her research, helped position Manchester as a global powerhouse in higher education. Now, as the University's Campaign and External Relations Ambassador, she sits down with Genomic Press to share what she has learned about science, leadership and why sometimes the best discoveries come from taking the road less travelled – offering readers a rare glimpse into the mind of someone who has excelled at both groundbreaking research and institutional leadership while helping build Manchester into a world-leading centre of academic excellence.

Nanosensor for Fe(II) and Fe(III) Allowing Spatiotemporal Sensing in Planta.

Fluorescent nanosensors operating in planta have shown recent success toward informing basic plant biology and agricultural applications. We developed near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent nanosensors using the Corona Phase Molecular Recognition (CoPhMoRe) technique that distinguish Fe(II) and Fe(III) species with limit of detection as low as 10 nM. An anionic poly(p-phenyleneethynylene) (PPE) polyelectrolyte wrapped single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) shows up to 200% turn-on and 85% turn-off responses to Fe(II) and Fe(III), respectively, allowing spatial and temporal analysis of iron uptake in both foliar and root-to-shoot pathways. Our findings reveal species-dependent iron uptake efficiency, mobility, and utilization rates, which we show is primarily affected by the chelation status of iron source and by plant physiological conditions such as iron deficiency and treatment with the stress hormone, abscisic acid (ABA). The broad applicability of this sensor across important plant species highlights the potential of nanotechnology-enabled sensors to enable precise and sustainable nutrient management.