Influence of Dietary Biosynthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Broiler Zinc Uptake, Bone Quality, and Antioxidative Status

Green metal nanotechnology in monogastric animal health: current trends and future prospects - A review

Green nanotechnology is an emerging field of research in recent decades with rapidly growing interest. This integrates green chemistry with green engineering to avoid using toxic chemicals in the synthesis of organic nanomaterials. Green nanotechnology would create a huge potential for the use of nanoparticles for more sustainable utilization in improving animal health. Nanoparticles can be synthesised by physical, chemical and biological processes. Traditional methods for physical and chemical synthesis of nanoparticles are toxic to humans, animals and environmental health, which limits their usefulness. Green synthesis of nanoparticles via biological processes and their application in animal health could maximize the benefits of nanotechnology in terms of enhancing food animal health and production as well as minimize the undesirable impacts on Planetary Health. Recent advances in nanotechnology have meant different nanomaterials, especially those from metal sources, are now available for use in nanomedicine. Metal nanoparticles are one of the most widely researched in green nanotechnology, and the number of articles on this subject in food animal production is growing. Therefore, research on metal nanoparticles using green technologies have utmost importance. In this review, we report the recent advancement of green synthesized metal nanoparticles in terms of their utilization in monogastric animal health, elucidate the research gap in this field and provide recommendations for future prospects.

Contribution of nanotechnology to greater efficiency in animal nutrition and production

Feed costs present a major burden in animal production for human consumption, representing a key opportunity for cost reduction and profit improvement. Nanotechnology offers potential to increase productivity by creating higher-quality and safer products. The feed sector has benefited from the use of nanosystems to improve the stability and bioavailability of feed ingredients. The development of nanotechnology products for feed must consider the challenges raised by biological barriers as well as regulatory requirements. While some nanotechnology-based products are already commercially available for animal production, the exponential growth and application of these products requires further research ensuring their safety and the establishment of comprehensive legislative frameworks and regulatory guidelines. Thus, this article provides an overview of the current state of the art regarding nanotechnology solutions applied in feed, as well as the risks and opportunities aimed to help researchers and livestock producers.

Comparative effects of dietary zinc nanoparticle and conventional zinc supplementation on broiler chickens: A meta-analysis

Background and Aim

Zinc (Zn) is important for various physiological processes in broiler chickens, including protein and carbohydrate metabolism, growth, and reproduction. The gastrointestinal absorption of Zn in broiler chickens was notably low. One approach that has been explored for enhancing the bioavailability of Zn is the development of Zn nanoparticles (NPs). Zn is required for various physiological processes in broiler chickens, including protein and carbohydrate metabolism, growth, and reproduction. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of conventional Zn and Zn NPs on broiler chickens using a meta-analysis methodology.

Materials and Methods

A database was built from published literature to evaluate the effects of the addition of Zn NPs and conventional Zn on broiler chicken responses, including the following parameters: production performance; carcass cuts; visceral organ weight; lymphoid organ weight; nutrient digestibility; intestinal villi; mineral Zn, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations; hematology; blood parameters; immunoglobulin; and intestinal bacterial population. Various scientific platforms, including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed Central, and Google Scholar, were used to search for peer-reviewed articles. A database was created from 25 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The data were then processed for a meta-analysis using a mixed-model methodology. Different types of Zn (NPs versus conventional) were considered fixed effects, different studies were treated as random effects, and p-values were used as model statistics.

Results

Across the parameters observed in this study, the use of Zn NPs was more efficient in Zn utilization than conventional Zn, as evidenced by the average dose of Zn NPs being much lower than that of conventional Zn (79.44 vs. 242.76 mg/kg) yet providing similar (p > 0.05) or even significantly better effects (p < 0.05) compared to conventional Zn usage.

Conclusion

This investigation revealed the beneficial influence of Zn NPs in broiler chickens compared to the conventional utilization of Zn through an all-encompassing meta-analysis. Moreover, Zn NPs have proven to be more effective in Zn utilization when juxtaposed with conventional Zn, as demonstrated by the significantly lower quantity of Zn NPs administered compared to conventional Zn, while yielding comparable or even superior outcomes compared to the traditional utilization of Zn. A limitation of this study is that the Zn NPs used were sourced from inorganic Zn NPs. Therefore, future research should focus on evaluating the efficiency of organic Zn NPs in broiler chicken feed.

Zinc improves Denosumab and eldecalcitol efficacy for bone mineral density in patients with hypozincemia

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate the effects of zinc deficiency and zinc medication in osteoporosis patients undergoing denosumab (DMAb).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted at a single hospital. The participants were female osteoporosis patients visiting between April 2019 and April 2020. All patients were treated with DMAb and eldecalcitol and recommended zinc-rich food. Based on zinc medication and serum zinc levels at the 12th month of dietary guidance, patients were categorized into the following four groups: hypozincemia with zinc medication, latent zinc deficiency with zinc medication, without zinc medication, and control without zinc medication. Longitudinal serum zinc concentrations, bone mineral density (BMD), and occurrence of fractures were measured. We investigated the factors influencing no response to DMAb and eldecalcitol treatment.

RESULTS

Among the 145 patients followed up for 24 months, dietary guidance did not change the serum zinc concentration; however, zinc medication significantly increased these levels. The hypozincemia group did not show a significant BMD increase in the lumbar spine and femoral neck after DMAb and eldecalcitol treatment during dietary guidance; however, zinc medication increased these to the same levels as the other groups. In multivariate analyses, hypozincemia and thyroid disease were identified as the factors affecting no response. While 28.2% of patients with latent zinc deficiency without zinc medication suffered fractures, no fractures occurred in hypozincemia patients with zinc medication.

CONCLUSION

Hypozincemia may reduce the efficacy of DMAb and eldecalcitol in increasing BMD and fracture prevention.

Enantioselective Antiviral Activities of Chiral Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

Chiral nanoparticles (C-NPs) play a crucial role in biomedical applications, especially in their biological effects on cytotoxicity and metabolism. However, there are rare reports about the antivirus property of C-NPs and their working mechanism. Here, three different types of chiral ZnO NPs (l-ZnO, d-ZnO, and dl-ZnO) were prepared as enantioselective antivirals. Biocompatibility test results showed that the three different chiral ZnO NPs varied significantly in cytotoxicity. Evaluation of their effects against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) indicated that compared with d-ZnO and dl-ZnO NPs, l-ZnO NPs exhibited stronger anti-PRRSV activity due to their higher cognate cell adhesion and uptake. Furthermore, the high concentration of l-ZnO NPs can obviously reduce cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MARC-145 cells, thus effectively preventing PRRSV-induced oxidative damage. This study demonstrated the outstanding antiviral properties of l-ZnO NPs, which may facilitate the development and application of C-NPs in antiviral drugs and tissue engineering.

Improving Dietary Zinc Bioavailability Using New Food Fortification Approaches: A Promising Tool to Boost Immunity in the Light of COVID-19

Zinc is a powerful immunomodulatory trace element, and its deficiency in the body is closely associated with changes in immune functions and viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The creation of new forms of zinc delivery to target cells can make it possible to obtain smart chains of food ingredients. Recent evidence supports the idea that the optimal intake of zinc or bioactive compounds in appropriate supplements should be considered as part of a strategy to generate an immune response in the human body. Therefore, controlling the amount of this element in the diet is especially important for populations at risk of zinc deficiency, who are more susceptible to the severe progression of viral infection and disease, such as COVID-19. Convergent approaches such as micro- and nano-encapsulation develop new ways to treat zinc deficiency and make zinc more bioavailable.

Cobalt availability in the soil plant and animal food chain: a study under a peri-urban environment

Cobalt metal is considered as an essential trace element for the animals. Present investigation was undertaken in the peri-urban area to analyze the cobalt availability in animal food chain by using different indices. Cow, buffalo and sheep samples along with forage and soil samples were collected from the three different sites of District Jhang and analyzed through atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Cobalt values differed in soil samples as 0.315-0.535 mg/kg, forages as 0.127-0.333 mg/kg and animal samples as 0.364-0.504 mg/kg. Analyzed cobalt concentration in soil, forage and animal samples was found to be deficient in concentration with respect to standard limits. Soil showed the minimum cobalt level in Z. mays while maximum concentration was examined in the forage C. decidua samples. All indices examined in this study has values lesser than 1, representing the safer limits of the cobalt concentration in these samples. Enrichment factor (0.071-0.161 mg/kg) showed the highly deficient amount of cobalt enrichment in this area. Bio-concentration factor (0.392-0.883) and pollution load index (0.035-0.059 mg/kg) values were also lesser than 1 explains that plant and soil samples are not contaminated with cobalt metal. The daily intake and health risk index ranged from 0.00019-0.00064 mg/kg/day and 0.0044-0.0150 mg/kg/day respectively. Among the animals, cobalt availability was maximum (0.0150 mg/kg/day) in the buffaloes that grazed on the C. decidua fodder. Results of this study concluded that cobalt containing fertilizers must be applied on the soil and forages. Animal feed derived from the cobalt containing supplements are supplied to the animals, to fulfill the nutritional requirements of livestock.