Atomic force microscopy study of the effects of water-soluble fullerenes on the elasticity of living plant cells

Biological evaluation and molecular dynamics simulation of water-soluble fullerene derivative C60[C(COOH)2]3

One of the most studied fullerene members, C₆₀, has a potential of application in various fields of biomedicine including reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity, inhibiting of tumours development, inactivating of viruses and bacteria, as well as elaboration of diagnostic and targeted drug delivery tools. However, the hydrophobicity of this molecule impedes its practical use, therefore the actuality of the research devoted to functionalisation of fullerenes leading to amphiphilic derivatives remains important. In this work, the water-soluble carboxylated fullerene derivative C₆₀[C(COOH)₂]₃ was studied. Extensive biomedical investigation of this compound, namely, the binding with human serum albumin (HSA), radical scavenging activity in the reaction with diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, photodynamic properties, cytotoxicity in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell line, erythrocytes' haemolysis, platelet aggregation, and genotoxicity in human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) was conducted. Moreover, the dynamic and structural characteristics of C₆₀[C(COOH)₂]₃-H₂O binary system were obtained using molecular dynamic (MD) method, and size distribution of C₆₀[C(COOH)₂]₃ associates was measured.

Applications of carbon nanomaterials in the plant system: A perspective view on the pros and cons

With the remarkable development in the field of nanotechnology, carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) have been widely used for numerous applications in different areas of the plant system. The current understanding about the CNMs' accumulation, translocation, plant growth responses, and stress modulations in the plant system is far from complete. There have been relentless efforts by the researchers worldwide in order to acquire newer insights into the plant-CNMs interactions and the consequences. The present review intends to update the reader with the status of the impacts of the different CNMs on plant growth. Research reports from the plant biotechnologists have documented mixed effects (which are dependent on CNMs' concentration) of the CNMs' exposure on plants ranging from enhanced crop yield to acute cytotoxicity. The growth and yield pattern vary from species to species and are dependent on the dosage of the CNMs applied. Studies found an increase in vegetative growth and yield of fruit/seed at lower concentration of CNMs, but a decrease in these observables were also noted when higher concentrations of CNMs were used. In general, at lower concentrations, CNMs were found to be effective in enhancing (water uptake, water transport, seed germination, nitrogenase, photosystem and antioxidant activities), activating (water channels proteins) and promoting (nutrition absorption); all these change when concentrations are raised. All these aspects have been reviewed thoroughly in this article, with a focus on the recent updates on the role of the CNMs in augmenting or retarding plant growth. Sections have been devoted to the various features of the CNMs and their roles in inducing plant growth, phytotoxic responses of the plants and overall crop improvement. Concluding remarks have been added to propose future directions of research on the CNMs-plant interactions and also to sound a warning on the use of CNMs in agriculture.