Physicochemical Traits Research Articles

Versatile MXenes as electrochemical sensors for heavy metal ions and phenolic moiety-containing industrial chemicals: recent development and prospects

MXenes and their hybrid materials, with good physicochemical traits, have exhibited excellent performance across numerous applications.

Nutritional Potential of Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. Almonds as Compared to Some Oilseeds from Morocco: Evidence from Proximate Composition, Mineral Profiling, and Oil Physicochemical Traits

Nowadays, there is a great interest in the search for new sources of vegetable oils, natural bioactive compounds, and essential nutrients for human health. Oleaginous fruits and seeds are a good source of nutrients such as oil, carbohydrates, fatty acids, sterols, tocopherols, fibers, vitamins, minerals, and proteins for the human diet. The main objective of this study was to compare the nutritional composition of Ziziphus lotus almonds (ZLA) with some well‐known seeds (argan kernel, nigella seed, cactus seed, and sesame seed) and to classify them by the mean of principle component analysis (PCA). The samples’ proximate composition, mineral profiling, and some physicochemical parameters of extracted oil were evaluated. Our results revealed that ZLA composition was as follows: oil yield (26.99 ± 1.52 g/100 g), proteins (30.79 ± 0.07 g/100 g), ash (6.5 ± 0.06 g/100 g), and moisture (3.62 ± 0.10 g/100 g). The mineral profile of ZLA consists mainly of P, K, Mg, and Ca. The main fatty acids in ZLA oil were oleic acid (60.73 ± 0.10 g/100 g), linoleic acid (18.75 ± 0.10 g/100 g), and palmitic acid (9.86 ± 0.10 g/100 g). β‐Sitosterol (67.92 ± 0.46 g/100 g) was the major sterol in ZLA, followed by stigmasterol (15.34 ± 0.35%) and campesterol (8.75 ± 0.12%). Total tocopherols were present at 523 ± 9.23 mg/kg in the oil. PCA analysis demonstrated that the ZLA composition was found to be close to that of sesame seeds. In conclusion, ZLA could be considered an alternative source of vegetable oils and protein as well as other various applications.

Bacterial polyynes uncovered: a journey through their bioactive properties, biosynthetic mechanisms, and sustainable production strategies.

Covering: up to 2023Conjugated polyynes are natural compounds characterized by alternating single and triple carbon-carbon bonds, endowing them with distinct physicochemical traits and a range of biological activities. While traditionally sourced mainly from plants, recent investigations have revealed many compounds originating from bacterial strains. This review synthesizes current research on bacterial-derived conjugated polyynes, delving into their biosynthetic routes, underscoring the variety in their molecular structures, and examining their potential applications in biotechnology. Additionally, we outline future directions for metabolic and protein engineering to establish more robust and stable platforms for their production.

Assessing Seasonal Changes in Physicochemical Traits and Biochemical Profiles of Key Carp Species in Masani Barrage Lake and JLN Canal

Our thorough seasonal analysis of Masani Barrage Lake and JLN Canal in Rewari reveals the profound impact of seasonal changes on aquatic ecosystems. Both water bodies display distinct patterns in temperature, pH, salinity, and other parameters. The unique characteristics of lakes, with greater temperature fluctuations and nutrient cycling, contribute to differences in phytozooplankton and ecological dynamics compared to more regulated canals. Additionally, our study on common carp tissues shows clear seasonal variations in moisture, ash, protein, lipid, and fatty acid levels, indicating specific metabolic responses to environmental conditions. Understanding these nuances is crucial for grasping the diverse influences of these habitats on fish physiology, with lakes experiencing more significant variations than canals due to their larger and more open systems.

Linking ecological characteristics with fish diversity, assemblage patterns and feeding guilds, and GIS applications along the temporal and spatial gradients in a large subtropical reservoir, India, for sustainable management

Abstract The objective of the investigation was to explore the abundance, composition, and diversity patterns of the fish fauna along the temporal and spatial scale and study the influence of environmental parameters on the fish assemblage in the Rihand reservoir, a large sub-tropical Indian reservoir in India. On the temporal scale, the highest abundance was recorded in the summer season and the lowest in the monsoon season, while on the spatial scale, the highest abundance was recorded from the riverine and the minimum from the lacustrine zone. The highest species richness and diversity were recorded from the riverine zone followed by the transitional and lacustrine zones, respectively. The analysis of the variance of fish abundance revealed insignificant differences between the riverine and the transitional zones. The trophic guild analysis indicated the dominance of carnivores. The output of canonical correspondence analysis depicted the significant influence of the physico-chemical traits on the abundance of fish species. The transparency and specific conductivity were found to be the most critical factors affecting fish assemblages in the Rihand reservoir. This study generated important baseline ecological information that would be useful for the monitoring, conservation, and management of the reservoir ecosystem.

Nanocrystal engineering: Unraveling bioactivities and augmented photocatalytic degradation of ZnO and Cr-doped ZnO via green and chemical synthesis routes

Herein, we focused on the combined investigation of physicochemical traits and multifunctional bioactivity of ZnO and Cr-doped ZnO NPs synthesized by chemical and green synthesis methods. The green synthesis was accomplished by utilizing Azadirachta Indica leaf extracts which include the phytochemicals azadirachtin and nimbolide function as prominent therapeutic agents in diagnosis. The XRD and TEM analysis evidences all the prepared NPs exhibit hexagonal wurtzite structure, and the change in crystallinity of ZnO NPs with Cr substitution has been examined. The optical properties show that Cr inclusion effectively changes the optical band gap of pure ZnO NPs, confirming the quantum confinement effect. The synthesized NPs were employed to investigate photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (Rh B) dye in an aqueous environment under UV irradiation. The Rh-B dye effectively degraded within 180 min in the presence of synthesized nano catalyst at room temperature. Further, the synthesized NPs were subjected to investigate their bio-potency for microbicidal and cytotoxicity properties. The biosynthesized Cr-ZnO NPs exhibit significant cytotoxicity against A-549 lung cancer cells with the lowest IC50 value (21.79 µg/ml) and also demonstrate good antioxidant activity with the highest percentage of inhibition 81.23 % as measured by the DPPH scavenging assay in contrast to other NPs. In addition, the chemically synthesized Cr-ZnO NPs found the highest inhibition activity (90.78 %) for antidiabetic efficiency of Alpha-amylase enzyme assay and also shows significant antibacterial activities with a higher zone of inhibition (17 mm) against gram-positive Bacillus cereus over other samples. Thus, this study highlights ZnO NPs versatile attributes, paving the way for promising biomedical and environmental uses.

Organic Fertilization in 'Pérola' Pineapple Increases Fruit Production and Physical and Chemical Characteristics

Pineapple is the third most cultivated tropical fruit in the world. However, few studies have focused on the cultivationusing organic fertilization, especially in semiarid regions. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate growth, production andphysicochemical traits of pineapple fruits produced under organic fertilization in the semiarid. The experiment wascarried out at the didactic orchard of Federal Rural University of Semiarid, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Fourfertilization treatments were studied (chemical fertilizer, cattle manure, goat manure, poultry litter). At 18 monthsafter planting, plant growth, physicochemical traits of fruits, and productivity were evaluated. Results showed thatorganic fertilization with poultry litter provides best results for physicochemical traits of fruits and productivity of ‘Pérola’pineapple. Organic fertilization with poultry litter is most promising for plant growth, physicochemical traits of fruits, andproductivity in ‘Pérola’ pineapple, therefore, the most suitable for cultivation in the semiarid region. The fruit firmness,central cylinder weight, and ratio SS/TA showed best values under chemical and goat manure fertilization.

Harvesting Maturity Assessment of Newly Developed Citrus Hybrids (Citrus maxima Merr. × Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) for Optimum Juice Quality

The assessment of the optimum harvesting stage is a prerequisite to evaluating the performance of new citrus genotypes. The intrinsic and extrinsic fruit quality traits of citrus fruits change throughout their developmental process; therefore, to ensure the highest quality, the fruit must be harvested at an appropriate stage of maturity. The biochemical changes in terms of total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), TSS/TA ratio, BrimA (Brix minus acidity), and ascorbic acid, in addition to the organoleptic acceptability of 16 new interspecific citrus hybrids, were evaluated in New Delhi (India) during the H1-H8 harvesting stage at 15-day intervals to standardize the optimum harvesting stage. The TA and ascorbic acid content were at a maximum level during the early harvesting stage and declined with time, reaching the minimum level in the last harvesting stage. The TSS, TSS/TA ratio, and BrimA values were found to have an increasing trend up to the last stage in most of the hybrids. The juice content shows an inclining trend during the initial harvesting observations, followed by stable juice content and then a decline. The BrimA was found to be a better predictor for consumer acceptability compared to the traditional maturity index TSS/TA ratio and, thus, harvesting maturity. Specific TSS, TA, and BrimA values, in addition to the juice percentage and ascorbic acid content, corresponding to the highest hedonic score, were judged as the optimum harvesting stage indicators for an individual hybrid genotype. Among the interspecific hybrids, SCSH-9-10/12, SCSH-11-15/12, and SCSH-17-19/13 were found to be superior, having better juice acceptability organoleptic scores (≥6.0) and higher juice content (≥40%). Principal component analysis based on fruit physico-chemical traits could be able to distinguish the optimum maturity stage in all of the citrus genotypes.

PSII-24 Relationship Among Color, Physicochemical Traits, and Ruminal in Situ Dry Matter Digestion of Corn Grains from Argentina, Brazil, and the United States

Abstract Corn-derived starch and rumen-degradable protein (RDP) available for rumen microbial fermentation vary significantly with corn hybrid and environmental conditions. Identifying corn physicochemical traits potentially correlated with ruminal DM digestibility would facilitate the prediction of its nutritional value compared with more time-consuming determinations. We assessed 1) the effect of corn origin on color, physicochemical traits, and 22-h in situ DM digestibility (22h-DMD), and 2) the relationship of color and physicochemical traits with 22h-DMD on Argentinian (AR, n = 29), Brazilian (BR, n = 4), and North American (US, n = 15) corn samples. The hardness-associated properties measured were: color (Hue angle; H) and physicochemical traits [crude protein (CP), thousand kernel weight (TKW), test weight (TW, Schopper chondrometer with ¼ L capacity), floaters (FLO, percent of kernels floating in a sodium nitrate solution), kernel density (KD, pycnometer method), vitreousness (VIT), and coarse-to-fine milling ratio (C:F)]. In situ 22h-DMD was determined using two ruminally cannulated steers receiving a 53:47 forage-to-concentrate ratio diet. Mastication was simulated by grinding a 100-g sample for 10 s using a 0.625-cm screen. For each steer, three sets of 4-g (DM basis) of each corn sample were placed into R1020 Ankom bags and introduced in the ventral sac of the rumen at two independent events separated by 48 h. Four bags per sample were placed in a water bath (39 °C, 15 min) to determine the soluble fraction (0h-DMD). Corn origin effect on color and physicochemical traits and on 0h-DMD and 22h-DMD were tested using GLM and MIXED procedures, respectively. Means were compared by Tukey-Kramer test. Relationships among variables were studied using a correlation matrix (PROC CORR) and stepwise multiple linear regression (PROC REG). All traits differed (P < 0.01; Table 1) among corn origin, being AR corns intermediate in hardness-associated properties between BR and US samples, though more similar to BR ones. Correlation coefficients (P < 0.01) of 22h-DMD with H, FLO, TW, KD, C:F, and CP, were 0.43, 0.80, −0.77, −0.71, −0.82, and −0.72, respectively; TKW was unrelated (P = 0.26) to 22h-DMD. The predictive 22h-DMD equation (P < 0.01) based on physicochemical traits was 22h-DMD (%) = 160.31 – 1.16 × TW (kg/hL) – 7.49 × C:F (g/g; RMSE = 3.54, R2 = 0.74). Softer kernels with higher H and FLO and lower TW, KD, C:F, and CP, demonstrated greater 22h-DMD than harder samples. Indeed, TW and C:F resulted in reliable predictors of 22h-DMD to describe the nutritional value of corn samples. Succinctly, AR and BR corn hardness-associated properties contrasted with US ones. We hypothesized that greater CP and reduced 0h-DMD and 22h-DMD of harder genotypes may reduce or eliminate the need for RDP supplementation when those grains are included in beef cattle finishing rations; however, more research is warranted on this topic.

Unraveling the dynamics of stacking fault nucleation in ceramics: A case study of aluminum nitride

Stacking fault (SF), originating from the emission of partial dislocations, wields significant influence over the structural and physicochemical traits of ceramic materials. Yet, the intricate atomic dynamics driving SF nucleation remain obscured. Here, we introduce an improved methodology for computing the generalized stacking fault energy (GSFE) in ceramics, integrating uneven Degrees of Freedom (DOFs) for distinct lattice sites. This refinement has yielded substantial energy advantages over the traditional rigid shift method inherited from metallic systems. Our findings underscore that the relaxation of nonmetallic N atoms within the SF region is pivotal for achieving a more realistic SF simulation. This, in turn, unveils the involvement of N atom migration within the SF region between different aluminum tetrahedral sites during SF nucleation. By alleviating the energy barrier, this relaxation contrasts with previous simulations where nonmetallic elements remained more rigid. This work demonstrates the atomic dynamics of SF nucleation in ceramics and breaks the conventional wisdom of uniformly applying constraints for GSFE computations.

Co-processed [Argania spinosa L. (Skeels)] oil with thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) leaves—New product optimization

Substituting synthetic antioxidants with naturally occurring antioxidants has been in the focus of several recent studies. Medicinal and aromatic plants are known to contain a wide array of bioactive compounds. These are endowed with an important antioxidant capacity and other biological activities. This work aimed at assessing potentiality of thyme leaves (TL) as natural additive to enrich and improve oxidative stability of argan oil (AO). To do this, three different proportions (2, 5, and 10%) of TL were added to argan kernels (edible part of fruits) during AO mechanical extraction. AO physicochemical and sensory parameters were evaluated. Such parameters consisted of basic quality indices, fatty acids, sensory evaluation, antioxidant capacity using DPPH• and FRAP assays, pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), as well as total phenolic compounds (simple phenolic compounds (SPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC)). The obtained results revealed an improvement of enriched AO physicochemical traits. In fact; at the end of the experiment, there was an increase of pigments, SPC, TFC, antioxidant capacity but a decrease of peroxide value and total oxidation of enriched AO (EAO) as compared to unenriched AO (UAO) in a dose-dependent manner. Regarding fatty acids, generally there are no significant changes between enriched and unenriched AO. Sensory analysis is satisfactory with a reduction of rancidity in EAO depending on TL proportion. However, EAO was marked by high scores of thyme color, flavor, and smell especially with TL at 5 and 10%. Based on the outcomes of this work, it could be concluded that enrichment of AO using TL is a good alternative to synthetic antioxidants giving rise to a new functional product.

Braving the extremes: foraminifera document changes in climate-induced and anthropogenic stress in Wadden Sea salt marshes

Tidal wetlands are highly dynamic ecosystems that are susceptible to changes in sea level and flooding from storm surges. Among them, salt marshes play a key role in coastal protection as they contribute to wave attenuation through their regulating ecosystem services, thereby promoting sediment deposition and shoreline stabilization. However, the resilience of salt marshes, particularly those that have been modified and cultivated for centuries, is questionable in the face of accelerated sea-level rise (SLR) and increasing run-up heights of storm surges. In this context, this study aims to investigate the historical foraminiferal records of two sedimentary salt marsh archives from the Wadden Sea area (Dithmarschen and North Frisia, Germany) that have been modified to varying degrees by human management activities over the last century. The foraminiferal records document how physico-chemical traits of salt marshes of the central Wadden Sea have responded to storm tide inundation over the last century, providing information about salt marsh stability and vulnerability. Abnormally grown tests of the salt marsh indicator speciesEntzia macrescensincreased in number between 1950 CE and the late 1980s, indicating the concurrent increase of environmental stress caused by the effects of times of increased salt marsh flooding. These trends can be linked to observations of amplified North Sea storm surges, corroborating that salt marsh ecosystems respond to changing climate conditions. Differences in the number of abnormal foraminifera between the studied salt marshes suggest a particularly high vulnerability of intensively human-modified coastal wetland ecosystems to amplified storm climate conditions.

A novel approach to environmental pollution management/remediation techniques using derived advanced materials

The carbon dioxide (CO2) crisis is one of the world's most urgent issues. Meeting the worldwide targets set for CO2 capture and storage (CCS) is crucial. Because it may significantly reduce energy consumption compared to traditional amine-based adsorption capture, adsorption dependant CO2 capture is regarded as one of the most hopeful techniques in this paradigm. The expansion of unique, critical edge adsorbent materials has received most of the research attention to date, with the main objective of improving adsorption capacity and lifespan while lowering the temperature of adsorption, thereby lowering the energy demand of sorbent revival. There are specific materials needed for each step of the carbon cycle, including capture, regeneration, and conversion. The potential and efficiency of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in overcoming this obstacle have recently been proven through research. In this study, we pinpoint MOFs' precise structural and chemical characteristics that have contributed to their high capture capacity, effective regeneration and separation processes, and efficient catalytic conversions. As prospective materials for the next generation of energy storage and conversion applications, carbon-based compounds like graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes are receiving a lot of interest. Their distinctive physicochemical characteristics make them suitable for these popular study topics, including structural stability and flexibility, high porosity, and customizable physicochemical traits. It is possible to precisely design the interior of MOFs to include coordinatively unsaturated metal sites, certain heteroatoms, covalent functionalization, various building unit interactions, and integrated nanoscale metal catalysts. This is essential for the creation of MOFs with improved performance. Utilizing the accuracy of MOF chemistry, more complicated materials must be built to handle selectivity, capacity, and conversion all at once to achieve a comprehensive solution. This review summarizes, the most recent developments in adsorption-based CO2 combustion capture, the CO2 adsorption capacities of various classes of solid sorbents, and the significance of advanced carbon nanomaterials for environmental remediation and energy conversion. This review also addresses the difficulties and potential of developing carbon-based electrodes for energy conversion and storage applications.

Antioxidant Potential of Yogurts Produced from Milk of Cows Fed Fodder Supplemented with Herbal Mixture with Regard to Refrigerated Storage

The aim of the study was to assess the potential of milk from herbal blend-fed cows to be used for the production of yogurts exhibiting increased antioxidant potential with regard to the duration of refrigerated storage of the products. Bulk milk (control—CM and experimental—EM) intended for the production of yogurts was provided by a dairy cattle breeding farm. The milk samples were analyzed to determine their basic chemical composition (the content of dry matter, fat, and total protein including casein), hygienic status (somatic cell count (SCC) and total microbial count (TMC)), and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS assays). Pasteurized milk was used to manufacture natural yogurts with the use of starter cultures YC-X11 (Chr. Hansen, Hørsholm, Denmark). Changes in physicochemical traits (acidity, nutritional value, and water activity) and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS assays) occurring during 21-day refrigerated storage of the yogurts were determined. The analyses revealed that the yogurts had higher antioxidant potential than the milk, irrespective of the determination method. Additionally, the experimental yogurts produced from milk obtained from the cows fed fodder supplemented with an herbal mixture exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity than the control yogurts. The antioxidant potential of the yogurts changed during the refrigerated storage. It should be emphasized that their antioxidant activity significantly increased during the first two weeks (until day 14) but decreased by 15–20% in the following week.

The evaluation of energy from grapevine shoots used as biomass depending on the cultivar

The article examines the influence of physicochemical traits on yield depending on the variety and year of cultivation. Four common to Poland grape cultivars, i.e. ‘Regent’, ‘Rondo’, ‘Seyval Blanc’, and ‘Solaris’, were evaluated by analysing, among others, number of clusters per bush, their weight, number of berries, and the yield per hectare, number of woody shoots, weight of woody shoots, and the diameter of woody shoots. Energy and emission parameters were evaluated by conducting technical evaluation (lower heating value, ash content, volatile matters content, moisture content, fixed carbon) and elemental analysis (carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulphur and oxygen contents) of one-year, two-year and three-year vine shoots. In addition, emission factors for CO, CO2, NOx, SO2 and dust were estimated. The study showed that there was no significant differences between years under study (2020, 2021 and 2022) and energy and emission parameters. It was observed that the highest LHV (lower heating value) occurred in the ‘Regent’ cultivar while the lowest level in the ‘Rondo’ cultivar. As regards energy-emission parameters, a significant influence of cultivar (‘Solaris’, ‘Rondo’, ‘Seyval Blanc’ and ‘Regent’) was shown on the parameters studied except for nitrogen content and NOx emission index. The interaction of year and cultivar showed no significant differences except for the moisture content.

Long-term rain exclusion in a Mediterranean forest: response of physiological and physico-chemical traits of Quercus pubescens across seasons.

With climate change, an aggravation in summer drought is expected in the Mediterranean region. To assess the impact of such a future scenario, we compared the response of Quercus pubescens, a drought-resistant deciduous oak species, to long-term amplified drought (AD) (partial rain exclusion in natura for 10 years) and natural drought (ND). We studied leaf physiological and physico-chemical trait responses to ND and AD over the seasonal cycle, with a focus on chemical traits including major groups of central (photosynthetic pigments and plastoquinones) and specialized (tocochromanols, phenolic compounds, and cuticular waxes) metabolites. Seasonality was the main driver of all leaf traits, including cuticular triterpenoids, which were highly concentrated in summer, suggesting their importance to cope with drought and thermal stress periods. Under AD, trees not only reduced CO2 assimilation (-42%) in summer and leaf concentrations of some phenolic compounds and photosynthetic pigments (carotenoids from the xanthophyll cycle) but also enhanced the levels of other photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls, lutein, and neoxanthin) and plastochromanol-8, an antioxidant located in chloroplasts. Overall, the metabolomic adjustments across seasons and drought conditions reinforce the idea that Q. pubescens is highly resistant to drought although significant losses of antioxidant defenses and photoprotection were identified under AD.

Bio/phyremediation potential of Leptospirillum ferrooxidans and Ricinus communis on metal contaminated mine sludge

The heavy metal pollution is a serious environmental pollution around the globe and threatens the ecosystem. The physicochemical traits (pH, Electrical conductivity, hardness, NPK, Al, Fe, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mg, and Mn) of soil sample collected from the polluted site were analyzed and found that the most of the metal contents were beyond the acceptable limits of national standards. The metals such as Mn (1859.37 ± 11.25 mg kg−1), Cd (24.86 ± 1.85 mg kg−1), Zn (795.64 ± 9.24 mg kg−1), Pb (318.62 ± 5.85 mg kg−1), Cr (186.84 ± 6.84 mg kg−1), and Al (105.84 ± 5.42 mg kg−1) were crossing the permissible limits. The pre-isolated L. ferrooxidans showed considerable metal tolerance to metals such as Al, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mg, and Mn at up to the concentration of 750 μg mL-1 and also have remediation potential on polluted soil in a short duration of treatment. The greenhouse study demonstrated that the bio/phytoremediation potential of metal tolerant L. ferrooxidans and R. communis under various remediation (A, B, and C) groups. Surprisingly, remediation group C demonstrated greater phytoextraction potential than the other remediation groups (A and B). These results strongly suggest that coexistence of L. ferrooxidans and R. communis had a significant positive effect on phytoextraction on metal-contaminated soil.

Alteration in the physico-chemical traits and nutritional quality of rice under anticipated rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration: A review

Alteration in the physico-chemical traits and nutritional quality of rice under anticipated rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration: A review

Biodistribution of nanodiamonds is determined by surface functionalization

Solid-core nanoparticles made of carbon, metals and other inorganic materials are gaining interest as nanocarriers to facilitate nucleic acid therapeutics. Our group designed amino acid-functionalized nanodiamonds (NDs, collectively fNDs) to serve this purpose via covalent conjugation of basic amino acid lysine and di-peptide lysyl-histidine on the ND surface. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the functionalization-dependent biodistribution profiles of fNDs, a key step in the process of developing these novel nano-systems. Here the aim was two-fold i.e., to establish an optimized protocol for radiolabeling of fNDs and to study the functionalization-dependent differences in pharmacokinetic behavior of NDs. Both types of fNDs yielded a surface loading of 1.94 and 14.45 mmol/g of lysine and lysyl-histidine amino acid conjugates respectively. Deferoxamine (DFO) was conjugated directly on the ND surface for the first time to chelate zirconium (89Zr), the radiolabel of interest for in vivo tracking. To achieve an effective balance between radiolabeling efficiency, surface chemistry and colloidal stability of DFO-conjugated fNDs, attachment of DFO was evaluated in the range of 1–8 %. A 3 % loading with DFO was sufficient to chelate 2 MBq 89Zr with good radiochemical yield (≥90 %) while maintaining the physicochemical characteristics of the fNDs, namely particle size ≤300 nm and overall positive zeta potential of higher than 15 mV. Furthermore, 89Zr-labeled fNDs remain stable in phosphate buffered saline and mouse serum for over 96 h maintaining a radiochemical stability of ≥97 %. Following process optimization, we evaluated differential organ distribution and pharmacokinetic profile of 89Zr-labeled fNDs. All NDs showed the highest uptake in the liver, followed by the spleen. However, the degree of uptake and retention time in the liver varied based on the surface functionalization. The lysyl-histidine-NDs showed the highest AUC, followed by the carboxylated NDs and the lysine-NDs. Unlike lysine-NDs, which depleted quickly from the liver (marked decline in ND-associated radioactivity from 5.6 to 2.3 %), the lysyl-histidine-NDs maintained a longer residence for at least 72 h in the liver marked by ND-associated radioactivity of 8.9 % after 6 h that increased further to 11.7 % after 72 hours post injection. Overall, this work presents a proof-of-concept to study the effect of surface characteristics on the in vivo behavior and organ deposition of NDs. Here, we successfully established an optimized protocol to achieve radiolabeling of NDs while maintaining the optimum physicochemical traits of fNDs to act as potential gene carriers. Using these approaches, we elucidated that the biodistribution and the pharmacokinetic behavior of NDs varies based on the functionalization design.

Quantitative trait loci and candidate genes for physico-chemical traits related to tuber quality in greater yam (Dioscorea alata L.).

Starch, dry matter content (DMC), proteins, and sugars are among the major influences on yam tuber quality. Genetic improvement programs need simple, rapid, and low-cost tools to screen large populations. The objectives of this work were, using a quantitative trait loci mapping approach (QTL) on two diploid full-sib segregating populations, (i) to acquire knowledge about the genetic control of these traits; (ii) to identify markers linked to the genomic regions controlling each trait, which are useful for marker-assisted selection (MAS); (iii) to validate the QTLs on a diversity panel; and (iv) to identify candidate genes from the validated QTLs. Heritability for all traits was moderately high to high. Significant correlations were observed between traits. A total of 25 QTLs were identified, including six for DMC, six for sugars, six for proteins, and seven for starch. The phenotypic variance explained by individual QTLs ranged from 14.3% to 28.6%. The majority of QTLs were validated on a diversity panel, showing that they are not specific to the genetic background of the progenitors. The approximate physical location of validated QTLs allowed the identification of candidate genes for all studied traits. Those detected for starch content were mainly enzymes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, whereas those detected for sugars were mainly involved in respiration and glycolysis. The validated QTLs will be useful for breeding programs using MAS to improve the quality of yam tubers. The putative genes should be useful in providing a better understanding of the physiological and molecular basis of these important tuber quality traits. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.