Nano-Biofortification for Human and Environmental Health

Nanotechnology has shown great potential to alleviate increasing pressure to meet food needs for our increasing human population, Novel agricultural innovations are required to enhance the health of edible crops and per unit area yield without impacting the associated environment in a negative way. Recent advancements in nanotechnology-based agricultural solutions have proven to help overcome the problems in agriculture that are associated with run-off of essential fertilizers from agricultural soils, low nutrient accumulation by crops, as well as to control insects, pests, and seasonal biotic factors, treatment of wastewater used for irrigation, plant uptake of xenobiotics (heavy metals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, drugs, and so on) that may be present in contaminated soils. Additionally, the consumption of such food crops may result in malnourishment and plant-mediated transfer of toxic substances among humans especially in underprivileged and rural populations.  

Agents to stimulate plant growth include various types of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, metal, and metal-oxide nanoparticles. Applications of particular nutrients or elements in crop plants can be shown to aid human nourishment (either by directly inducing its uptake or indirectly through enhancing the intracellular levels of other associated elements that ultimately boost the synthesis of the desired nutrient in plants). 

It is also important to consider the competence and fate of nanomaterials in soil ecosystems. The entry route of nanomaterials into the environment includes both natural and anthropogenic sources. In order to achieve sustainable and safe use of nanotechnological products in agriculture, similar environmental conditions must be simulated on lab scale with the careful selection of organisms related to agriculture. Thus, emphasis should be placed on the judicial use of nano-enabled products without compromising the sustainability of the environment and human health. 

This comprehensive book highlights recent field research as well as contributions from academicians in the lab. This book addresses the major aspects related to nanotechnology, biofortification of crops, and human and environmental health.

Dr. Vishnu D. Rajput is working as a Leading Researcher (Associate Professor), Head of ‘Soil Health Lab’ at Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia. His ongoing research is based on toxic effects of bulk- and nano-forms of metals, and investigating the bioaccumulation, bio/geo-transformations, uptake, translocation, and toxic effects of bulk- and nano-forms of metals on plant physiology, morphology, anatomy, the ultrastructure of cellular and subcellular organelles, cytomorphometric modifications, and DNA damage. He is also discovering the possible remediation approaches such using biochar/nano-biochar based sorbents and nanotechnological approaches. With long experience and experimental work, Dr. Rajput comprehensively detailed the state of research in environmental science in regard to “how nanoparticles/heavy metals interact with plants, soil, microbial community, and the larger environment as well as possible remediation technology using nanoparticles/nano-biochar. He has published (total of 370 scientific publications) 224 peer-reviewed full-length articles, 18 books (Springer, Elsevier, CRC-press, Nova-USA), 70 chapters (Scopus indexed), 44 conference articles. He is an internationally recognized reviewer, reviewed 205 manuscripts and received an Outstanding Reviewing Certificate by Elsevier, Springer & Plants-MDPI. He is an editorial board member of various high-impacted journals. He is a leader of several grants including Mega-Grant, BRICS and performer/co-PI of several national and international projects Dr. Rajput has received “Certificate for Appreciation 2019" 2021, “Certificate of Honor 2020", Diploma Award 2021 & 2022, Letter of Gratitude 2022, by Southern Federal University, Russia, for outstanding contribution in academic, creative research, and publication activities. He has also received “Highly Qualified Specialist” status by Russian government.

Prof. Dr. Hassan El-Ramady is full Prof. of Soil fertility and Plant nutrition atKafrelsheikh Uni. His Ph.D. from Braunschweig Uni. Germany 2008. He is working mainly on the biological plant nutrition and how to overcome different problems in this field depending on the applications of nanotechnology particularly under stress. The area of scientific interest is Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements in soils, and Environmental Soil Chemistry, Soil nano-remediation and nano-phytoremediation. He had several postdoctoral scholarships in Hungary, Germany, Italy (during the periods from 2012 to 2021), and attending several international Conferences like in the USA (2012 and 2014), Austria (2013), Brazil (2015), Germany (2004-2017). He shared as a member in many international societies from 2011 till now like American Society of Soil Science, German Society of Soil Science, German Society of Plant Nutrition, and member board of Egyptian Soil Science Society. Currently, he is Editor-in-Chief, Associate editor in some journal like Frontiers inSoil Science, Egyptian Journal of Soil Science (EJSS), Environment, Biodiversity and Soil Security (EBSS), beside a guest editor in some journal like Plants (Mdpi). He has peer reviewed more than 162 research or review articles for various international publication media, editor for about 200 articles, has several book chapters (30), more than 102 articles, 176 published materials. He was the lead editor of book “The Soils of Egypt”, which published by Springer 2019.

Dr. Sudhir K. Upadhyay working as a Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, V.B.S. Purvanchal University, Jaunpur, India since 18^th September 2010. Dr. Upadhyay has more than 12 years of teaching and research experience at postgraduate level. He is an erudite scholar and a diligent researcher, worked in different CSIR and ICAR Laboratories. The working areas of Dr. Upadhyay are Microbial ecology, PGPR, Plant microbe-interaction, Eco-friendly amendments for management of degraded soil, Environmental pollution management and Restoration ecology. Dr. Upadhyay obtained his Ph.D. degree in Environmental Science from B. B. Ambedkar University Lucknow (A Central University), India. Dr. Upadhyay secured University Gold medal at PG level and also received four times young scientist awards. He is member of numerous societies and editor of numerous journals of National and International repute. He has published numerous research papers in the journals of National and International repute. Dr Upadhyay actively supervised dozens of researchers for his M.Sc. and M.Phil dissertation work including doctoral (Ph.D) students. 

Prof. Dr. Tatiana Minkina is the Head of Soil science and land evaluation department of Southern federal university. The Head of International Master’s Degree Educational Program “Management and estimation of land resources” (2015-2022 years, accreditation by ACQUIN). The area of scientific interest is Soil Science, Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, and Environmental Soil Chemistry. Soil monitoring, assessment, modeling and remediation using physicochemical treatment methods. Awarded in 2015 with Diploma of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation for many years of long-term work for development and improvement of the educational process, significant contribution to the training of highly qualified specialists. Currently, she is handling projects funded by Russian Scientific foundation, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Russian foundation of Basic Research. Member of Expert Group of Russian Academy of Science; the International Committee on Contamination Land; Eurasian Soil Science Societies; the International Committee on Protection of the Environment; the International Scientific Committee of the International Conferences on Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements. Total scientific publications: 757 (389 in English). 

Dr. Bilal Ahmed is an Assistant Professor at the School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University (YU), Republic of Korea. Dr. Ahmed received his M.Sc. (received three gold medals) and Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. He has been teaching Bioseparation technology and Microbiology to post-graduate and research students at YU and has research experience of more than four years. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Ahmed is engaged in research on nanomaterial synthesis and their interactions with organisms and cells. He has published over 40 scientific papers including original research articles, review articles and book chapters in various national and international publication media. Dr. Ahmed is also running a research project funded by National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea. He is qualified with National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) (December 2014) for eligibility of Lectureship/Assistant Professorship in India. His interest in the various aspects and applications of Nanotechnology and Microbiology coupled with his laboratory and classroom experience makes him uniquely qualified to author this book. He is deeply involved in research activities focusing mainly on nanotoxicology, nanoparticle-plant and microbe interactions, microbiology, environmental microbiology, molecular microbiology, especially biofilm research, bioremediation, and nanoparticle/metals-PGPR-plant interaction. He has peer reviewed more than eighty research or review articles for various international publication media. He was also associated with Council of Science and Technology, U.P., India as a research assistant for a total of three years.

Dr. Saglara S. Mandzhieva is the Main Researcher, and Head of laboratory “Monitoring of Biosphere” of Southern Federal University, Russia. ScieThescientifica is Soil Science and working on the biogeochemistry of trace elements in soil, environmental soil chemistry, remediation using physicochemical treatment methods and published scientific publications: 628 (354 in English); Web of Science – 152, Scopus – 177 with the citation index: Web of Science – 1264, h-index – 19; Scopus – 1817, h-index – 21. Currently, she is handling several projects funded by the Russian Scientific Foundation, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Russian Foundation of Basic Research. She is a member of the Eurasian Soil Science Societies; the Russian Society of Soil Science named V.V Dokuchaev. Dr. S.S. Mandzhieva is a member of various international peer-reviewed journal including editorial board member of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X) and Eurasian Journal of Soil Science (e-ISSN: 2147-4249).