Eriks Sledevskis

Penetration of nanoparticles in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) calli and regenerants.

We demonstrate a method for direct delivery of metal nanoparticles to flax calli and regenerant cells by vacuum deposition of metal nanolayers on powdered hormone followed by dispersal of the combined hormone-metal in medium. The penetration and location of the gold (AuNPs) and silver (AgNPs) nanoparticles in calli and in plant regenerants were confirmed by optical absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. We detected a significant effect of the AuNPs and AgNPs on the regeneration type of flax calli.

Target Transportation of Auxin on Mesoporous Au/SiO2 Nanoparticles as a Method for Somaclonal Variation Increasing in Flax (L. usitatissimum L.)

Development of methods for direct delivery of different bioactive substances into the cell is a promising and intensively approached area of research. It has become a subject of serious research for multidisciplinary team of scientists working in such areas as physics, biology, and biotechnology. Plant calluses were grown on medium supplemented with different nanoparticles to be used as a model for biotechnological research. Gold nanoparticles with mesoporous silica coating were used as hormone carriers, since they possess many of critical properties required for cellular transportation instrument. Some of those properties are great biocompatibility and controlled release of carried molecules. Significant changes in hormones common impact were detected. The great increase in ploidy numbers, embryogenesis, induction, and methylation level was observed when compared to the źconventionalź methods of targeted hormones delivery that embrace usage of Au nanoparticles as a main hormone carrier. The authors suppose the research under consideration can provide a new pathway to the design of a novel targeted plant hormone and bioactive substances carrier.

The impact of CdS nanoparticles on ploidy and DNA damage of rucola ( Eruca sativa Mill.) plants

The genotoxic effect of cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdSNPs) of different sizes in rucola (Eruca sativa Mill.) plants was assessed. It was confirmed that nanoparticles < 5 nm in size were more toxic than larger particles at an identical mass concentration. Significant differences in cell ploidy, as well as in the mitotic index, were detected between control and treated samples. Differences in the DNA banding pattern between control samples and samples after treatment with cadmium sulfide nanoparticles were significant and detected at different places as the appearance or elimination of DNA fragments. Fluorescence images showed that cadmium sulfide nanoparticles smaller than 5 nm in size can diffuse through the membrane and their presence affects the genetic system of the plant.

Optical Properties of Composite Films Based on Copper Chloride in PMMA Matrix

The composite lms based on PMMA, CuCl2 and photoinitiator were prepared.Transmission spectra of the lms with and without photoinitiator were measured. The holo-graphic gratings were recorded, the sensitivity of the lms and surface structure of gratingswere studied. Microanalysis of the lms was performed in di erent part of structure elementsof grating.

Photosensitive properties of composite films based on copper chloride in polymer matrix

The composite films based on PMMA and CuCl2 were prepared. Transmission spectra of the films before and after illumination by different laser lines (405, 448, 456 nm) were measured. The reversible character of the composite photosensitivity was fixed. The phenomenon of direct surface relief formation after laser beam illumination of composite films was described. The holographic gratings were recorded by different exposure (200 – 500 J/cm2) in the films with different concentration (8 and 20 wt. %) of copper salt. The film sensitivity dependence on polymer molecular weight was studied. Surface relief of the gratings was measured by AFM.

ZnO-nanostructure-based electrochemical sensor: Effect of nanostructure morphology on the sensing of heavy metal ions

ZnO nanostructures are promising candidates for use in sensors, especially in electrochemical sensors and biosensors, due to their unique physical and chemical properties, as well as sensitivity and selectivity to several types of contamination, including heavy metal ions. In this work, using the hydrothermal method, nanostructures of ZnO were synthesized in four different morphologies: nanorods, nanoneedles, nanotubes and nanoplates. To determine the peculiarities of adsorption for each morphology, a series of electrochemical measurements were carried out using these nanostructured ZnO coatings on the working electrodes, using aqueous solutions of Pb(NO3)2 and Cd(NO3)2 as analytes with different concentrations. It was found that the sensitivity of the resulting electrochemical sensors depends on the morphology of the ZnO nanostructures: the best results were achieved in the case of porous nanostructures (nanotubes and nanoplates), whereas the lowest sensitivity corresponded to ZnO nanorods with a large diameter (i.e., low surface-to-volume ratio). The efficiency of sedimentation is also related to the electronegativity of adsorbate: it has been shown that all observed ZnO morphologies exhibited significantly higher sensitivity in detecting lead ions compared to cadmium ions.

Controlled growth of well-aligned ZnO nanorod arrays by hydrothermal method

The application prospect of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures largely relies on the ability to grow nanoobjects with necessary geometry. In this study well-aligned ZnO nanorod arrays with a high density and uniformity were successfully synthesized on the glass substrates by a hydrothermal method at low-temperature. The aqueous solutions of zinc nitrate hexahydrate and hexamethylenetetramine was used. The effect of seed layer (obtained by electrochemical method and by vacuum deposition method) on the alignment of ZnO nanorods has been investigated. The morphological properties of the ZnO nanorods were also examined in accordance with varying the magnetron sputtering angle for ZnO seeds deposition. It is also shown that the electric field can control the direction of the growth of ZnO nanorods. Morphological, structural and compositional characterizations of obtained films were carried out by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis methods.

Investigation of As2S3-Al films for dot-matrix holographic recording.

We have performed the investigation of dot matrix holographic recording in amorphous As2S3 chalcogenide films with different thickness on Al coated glass substrates. The control over the interference minimum of reflection during the evaporation process allowed obtaining As2S3-Al system with a minimum value of initial reflection in defined spectral region. The investigation of dependence of diffraction efficiency of holographic recording on both film thickness and initial conditions of reflectivity in the system was performed. The main advantage of this type of system is the possibility to increase optical sensitivity of material in predefined spectrum region for phase hologram recording.