Science drives horticulture's progress and profit

Horticultural science linked with basic studies in biology, chemistry, physics and engineering has laid the foundation for advances in applied knowledge which are at the heart of commercial, environmental and social horticulture. In few disciplines is science more rapidly translated into applicable technologies than in the huge range of man’s activities embraced within horticulture which are discussed in this Trilogy. This chapter surveys the origins of horticultural science developing as an integral part of the 16th century “Scientific Revolution”. It identifies early discoveries during the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries which rationalized the control of plant growth, flowering and fruiting and the media in which crops could be cultivated. The products of these discoveries formed the basis on which huge current industries of worldwide significance are founded in fruit, vegetable and ornamental production. More recent examples of the application of horticultural science are used in an explanation of how the integration of plant breeding, crop selection and astute marketing highlighted by the New Zealand industry have retained and expanded the viability of production which supplies huge volumes of fruit into the world’s markets. This is followed by an examination of science applied to tissue and cell culture as an example of technologies which have already produced massive industrial applications but hold the prospect for generating even greater advances in the future. Finally, examples are given of nascent scientific discoveries which hold the prospect for generating horticultural industries with considerable future impact. These include systems modeling and biology, nanotechnology, robotics, automation and electronics, genetics and plant breeding, and more efficient and effective use of resources and the employment of benign microbes. In conclusion there is an estimation of the value of horticultural science to society.

Superparamagnetic Ni:SiO(2)-C nanocomposites films synthesized by a polymeric precursor method

In this work, we report on the magnetic properties of nickel nanoparticles (NP) in a SiO(2)-C thin film matrix, prepared by a polymeric precursor method, with Ni content x in the 0-10 wt% range. Microstructural analyses of the films showed that the Ni NP are homogenously distributed in the SiO(2)-C matrix and have spherical shape with average diameter of similar to 10 nm. The magnetic properties reveal features of superparamagnetism with blocking temperatures T (B) similar to 10 K. The average diameter of the Ni NP, estimated from magnetization measurements, was found to be similar to 4 nm for the x = 3 wt% Ni sample, in excellent agreement with X-ray diffraction data. M versus H hysteresis loops indicated that the Ni NP are free from a surrounding oxide layer. We have also observed that coercivity (H (C)) develops appreciably below T (B), and follows the H (C) ae [1 - (T/T (B))(0.5)] relationship, a feature expected for randomly oriented and non-interacting nanoparticles. The extrapolation of H (C) to 0 K indicates that coercivity decreases with increasing x, suggesting that dipolar interactions may be relevant in films with x > 3 wt% Ni.

Er : YAB nanoparticles and vitreous thin films by the polymeric precursor method

The synthesis of Y(0.9)Er(0.1)Al(3)(BO(3))(4) crystalline powders and vitreous thin films were studied. Precursor solutions were obtained using a modified polymeric precursor method using D-sorbitol as complexant agent. The chemical reactions were described. Y(0.)9Er(0.1)Al(3)(BO(3))(4) composition presents good thermal stability with regard to crystallization. The Y(0.9)Er(0.1)Al(3)(BO(3))(4) crystallized phase can be obtained at 1,150 degrees C, in agreement with other authors. Crack- and porosity-free films were obtained with very small grain size and low RMS roughness. The films thickness revealed to be linearly dependent on precursor solution viscosity, being the value of 25 mPa s useful to prepare high-quality amorphous multi-layers (up to similar to 800 nm) at 740 degrees C during 2 h onto silica substrates by spin coating with a gyrset technology.

The use of colloidal ferrofluid as building blocks for nanostructured layer-by-layer films fabrication

The electrostatic layer-by-layer technique has been exploited as an useful strategy for fabrication of nanostructured thin films, in which specific properties can be controlled at the molecular level. Ferrofluids consist of a colloidal suspension of magnetic grains (with only a few nanometers of diameter) with present interesting physical properties and applications, ranging from telecommunication to drug delivery systems. In this article, we developed a new strategy to manipulate ferrofluids upon their immobilization in nanostructured layered films in conjunction with conventional polyelectrolytes using the layer-by-layer technique. We investigated the morphological, optical, and magnetic properties of the immobilized ferrofluid as a function of number of bilayers presented in the films. Ferrofluid/polyelectrolyte multilayers homogeneously covered the substrates surface, and the magnetic and optical properties of films exhibited a linear dependence on the number of bilayers adsorbed.

Adhesion as a tool for in-built nanotechnology design in cementitious materials

Confined water, such as those molecules in nanolayers of 2-3 nm in length, plays an important role in the adhesion of hydrophilic materials, mainly in cementitious ones. In this study, the effects of water containing kosmotropic substances on adhesion, known for their ability of enhancing the hydrogen bond (H-bond) network of confined water, were evaluated using mechanical strength tests. Indeed, to link adhesion provided by water confined in nanolayers to a macro-response of the cementitious samples, such as the bending strength, requires the evaluation of local water H-bond network configuration in the presence of kosmotropes, considering their influences on the extent and the strength of H-bonds. Among the kosmotropes, trimethylamine and sucrose provided a 50% increase in bending strength compared to the reference samples, the latter just using water as an adhesive, whereas trehalose was responsible for reducing the bending strength to a value close to the samples without any adhesive. The results attained opened up perspectives regarding exploring the confined water behavior which naturally occurs throughout the hydration process in cement-based materials.

Perpendicularly self-oriented and shape-controlled L1(0)-FePt nanorods directly synthesized by a temperature-modulated process

The synthesis and self-assembly of tetragonal phase-containing L1(0)-Fe(55)Pt(45) nanorods with high coercive field is described. The experimental procedure resulted in a tetragonal/cubic phase ratio close to 1:1 for the as-synthesized nanoparticles. Using different surfactant/solvent proportions in the process allowed control of particle morphology from nanospheres to nanowires. Monodisperse nanorods with lengths of 60 +/- 5 nm and diameters of 2-3 nm were self-assembled in a perpendicular oriented array onto a substrate surface using hexadecylamine as organic spacer. Magnetic alignment and properties assigned, respectively, to the shape anisotropy and the tetragonal phase suggest that the self-assembled materials are a strong candidate to solve the problem of random magnetic alignment observed in FePt nanospheres leading to applications in ultrahigh magnetic recording (UHMR) systems capable of achieving a performance of the order of terabits/in(2).

Management of cardiovascular diseases with micro systems and nanotechnology

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and morbidity in industrialized nations and are becoming an urgent health problem for all nations due to the unstoppable trend of an ageing and obese population. Due to the rapid development of micro total analysis systems (μTAS) and nanotechnology in recent years, they will play an important role in the diagnosis, management, and therapy of cardiovascular diseases. It is envisaged that the micro and nanotechnologies developed for treating other diseases shall be explored for cardiovascular applications to reduce the research effort required for commercializing the devices and drugs to meet the increasing demand of the cardiovascular patients.

Promises of nanotechnology for drug delivery to brain in neurodegenerative diseases

Brain is a delicate organ, isolated from general circulation and characterized by the presence of relatively impermeable endothelial cells with tight junctions, enzymatic activity and the presence of active efflux transporter mechanisms. These formidable obstacles often block drug delivery to the brain across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Although several promising molecules have the potential in the in vitro settings but lack of in vivo response is probably because the molecule cannot reach the brain in a sufficient concentration. Drug delivery across the BBB is a major limitation in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders and CNS infections. This review deals with the role of nanobiotechnology in CNS drug delivery, in which three categories of carbon nanotubes, nanowires and nanoparticles (NPs) are explained. The small size of the NPs makes them an ideal choice to penetrate the BBB. Several mechanisms are involved in this process and various strategies are used. There are some concerns about the safety of NP entry in the brain that need to be resolved before human use. Although there is no approved nanotechnology-based CNS drug available the future for such neuro-nanobiotechnology based delivery system developments is promising.

Nanotechnology based platforms for survivin targeted drug discovery

Introduction: Development of an effective, safe and targeted drug delivery system to fight cancer and other diseases is a prime focus in the area of drug discovery. The emerging field of nanotechnology has revolutionised the way cancer therapy and diagnosis is achieved primarily due to the recent advances in material engineering and drug availability. Further, the recognition of the crucial role played by anti-apoptotic proteins such as survivin, has initiated the development of therapeutics that can target this protein as an attempt to develop alternative cancer therapies. However, a key challenge faced in drug development is the efficient delivery of survivin-targeted molecules to specific areas in the body.Areas covered: This review primarily focuses on the different strategies employing nanotechnology for targeting survivin expressed in human cancers. Different nanomaterials incorporating nucleic molecules or drugs targeted at survivin are discussed and the results obtained from studies are highlighted.Expert opinion: There are extensive studies reporting different treatment regimens for cancer, however, they still result in systemic toxicity, reduced bioavailability and ineffective delivery. Novel approaches involve the use of biocompatible nanomaterials together with gene or drug molecules to target proteins such as survivin, which is overexpressed in cancerous cells. These nanoformulations allow the benefits of protecting easily degradable molecules, allow controlled release, and enhance targeted delivery and effectiveness. Hence, nanotherapy utilizing survivin targeting can be considered to play a key role in the development of personalized nanomedicine for cancer.