Neama Abdalla

Nanotechnology offers transformative potential for wastewater treatment, yet its full-scale implementation remains bottlenecked by the “lab–reality gap”. While bench-scale studies using idealized matrices report outstanding pollutant removal efficiencies, performance routinely deteriorates in authentic wastewater due to complex matrix interferences, natural organic matter (NOM) competitive binding, fouling dynamics, and unpredictable nano–bio transformations. Moving beyond traditional reviews that focus heavily on material synthesis and theoretical capacities, this review provides a novel, systems-oriented, and function-driven perspective on environmental nanotechnology. We critically evaluate the operational stability and behavior of nano-enabled systems under realistic conditions, categorizing nanomaterial roles into reactive interfaces, selective barriers, signal generators, and biological modulators. Crucially, this work examines the synergistic integration of nanotechnology with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), membrane bioreactors, and digital intelligence—including artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time nanosensing—to achieve smart fouling management and circular resource recovery. Finally, we propose a comprehensive, multidimensional evaluation framework that simultaneously assesses technical efficiency, stability, scalability, economic feasibility, environmental safety, and system compatibility. This review delivers a pragmatic roadmap to bridge the chasm between isolated laboratory discovery and robust, sustainable, field-scale wastewater engineering.

Water scarcity is becoming an increasingly critical global challenge, driven by climate change, rapid population growth, pollution, and unsustainable water use. Drought further intensifies this crisis by reducing water availability across agricultural, environmental, and socio-economic systems. In this context, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool for improving water management and enhancing drought resilience. This review examines the role of nanotechnology in drought mitigation and water conservation through multiple pathways, including the enhancement of plant drought tolerance, improvement in soil water retention, the development of smart irrigation and nano-sensing systems, and the expansion of water resources through purification, desalination, and wastewater reuse. In addition, the broader drought–water nexus is discussed to position nano-enabled approaches within existing water management strategies. While numerous studies report improvements in water-use efficiency, stress tolerance, and treatment performance under controlled conditions, significant limitations remain. These include concerns related to environmental safety, nanotoxicity, scalability, cost, and the gap between laboratory findings and field-level applications. Overall, nanotechnology should be considered a complementary approach rather than a stand-alone solution for addressing water scarcity under drought conditions. Future research should focus on long-term environmental impacts, techno-economic feasibility, and large-scale field validation to support the safe and effective integration of nanotechnology into sustainable water management systems.

The application of dual cytokinins can significantly enhance shoot multiplication rates in specific apple cultivars compared to standard protocols using a single cytokinin. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of shoot multiplication parameters and the underlying transcriptomic response of two distinct apple scion cultivars, cvs. Húsvéti rozmaring and McIntosh, to the simultaneous application of two cytokinins (BA and KIN). Morphological parameters were recorded, followed by comparative RNA-seq analysis and RT-qPCR validation. Our results demonstrate that the BA+KIN treatment induces a unique transcriptomic signature in both cultivars, which cannot be explained by a simple dose–response effect. In cv. McIntosh, 76% of the DEGs were uniquely regulated by the combination, while in cv. Húsvéti rozmaring, although the overlap with single treatments was higher, 17% of the DEGs (representing 1218 genes) were still exclusively activated by the BA+KIN treatment. The fact that the combined treatment recruits specific gene sets and metabolic pathways that remain silent under single BA or KIN applications—regardless of the cultivar—strongly supports a synergistic or non-additive hormonal interaction rather than a response to increased total cytokinin concentration. The dual treatment revealed 3209 DEGs in the inter-cultivar comparison, reflecting distinct strategies: cv. Húsvéti rozmaring achieved high efficiency growth by down-regulating internal hormones, whereas cv. McIntosh exploited intense auxin signaling and hormonal plasticity to maximize bud release. These results prove that distinct molecular pathways can lead to peak performance depending on the apple cultivar.

Exogenous cytokinin supply is a crucial factor during the in vitro shoot multiplication of apples. Meta-topolin has been shown to cause improved multiplication rate, higher quality in vitro shoots with better rooting, and acclimatization ability than the widely used benzyl adenine. The effects of benzyl adenine and meta-topolin on mRNA transcription in in vitro shoots were analyzed by using mRNA-seq, bioinformatics analysis, GO annotation, and KEGG mapping. The present investigations revealed that there were about 6-fold more significantly up-, or down-regulated genes (DEGs) in shoots grown on the benzyl adenine-containing medium than in those grown on the meta-topolin-containing medium. DEG analyses showed that WRKYs, bHLH, and MYB were the most affected transcription factors after both cytokinin treatments, while the expression of MIKC-type MADS-box, ERF, and AP2 transcription factors changed only after benzyl adenine treatment. DEGs related to auxin transport and signaling, as well as auxin synthesis, were differently affected by the two cytokinins. The DEG encoding cytokinin hydroxylase-like protein and related to trans-zeatin biosynthesis was up-regulated only after benzyl adenine treatment. The DEG encoding gibberellin 20 oxidase 2-like was down-regulated after a benzyl adenine supply while it was up-regulated after a meta-topolin supply. Changes in the cytokinin–auxin balance and gibberellin biosynthesis in in vitro shoots may contribute to the morphological differences previously observed for the two cytokinins.

The mushroom industry generates a substantial amount of residues each year, encompassing materials such as processing residues and spent substrates. Much of this biomass is discarded, despite its richness in valuable compounds. Mushroom residues contain bioactive substances including β-glucans, phenolic compounds, proteins, and dietary fiber, all of which are well known for their antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. While fruit and vegetable residues have been extensively explored as raw materials for eco-friendly packaging, mushroom-derived residues remain a largely underutilized resource. Recent studies have highlighted their potential as a renewable source of functional ingredients for sustainable food packaging. By applying green extraction technologies such as ultrasound- or microwave-assisted methods, researchers can recover stable bioactive compounds and incorporate them into biodegradable polymers. Early results are promising: packaging films enriched with mushroom residue extracts demonstrate improved mechanical strength, enhanced barrier properties, and added bioactivity. This strategy aligns with the principles of the Circular Economy, simultaneously reducing environmental impact and adding value to materials that were previously discarded. Although further optimization is needed, particularly regarding extraction efficiency, compound stability, and scalability, the valorization of mushroom residues represents a promising pathway toward the next generation of sustainable, eco-friendly packaging materials.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses an escalating global health crisis, projected to cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. Conventional antibiotics are increasingly ineffective due to microbial adaptation, overuse, and disruption of gut microbiota. Nanotechnology offers promising alternatives, but traditional nanoparticle synthesis often relies on toxic chemicals and energy-intensive processes. This review explores mushroom-derived nanoparticles (myco-NPs) as sustainable, eco-friendly antimicrobials. Edible and medicinal mushrooms contain bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, flavonoids, and proteins, that act as reducing and stabilizing agents in nanoparticle biosynthesis. Myco-NPs exhibit antimicrobial activity through membrane disruption, oxidative stress, immune modulation, and biofilm inhibition, while also demonstrating synergistic effects with antibiotics and potential roles in regulating the gut microbiota. Recent advances highlight their potential applications in medicine, food safety, and environmental protection. However, challenges remain regarding standardization, safety evaluation, and large-scale production. We emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration as essential to translating mushroom-based nanotechnology into effective clinical and industrial solutions.

A plant breeding program needs helpful markers, especially morphological ones, which can allow breeders to dispense with other markers, including cytological traits and flow cytometry. These markers can assist plant breeders in distinguishing diploid and tetraploid plants during the seedling stage. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate and validate effective methodologies for the early identification of artificially induced polyploids in black cumin. Thus, we established an extensional program for black cumin breeding including producing seeds, active compounds, and flowers as ornamental plants. Field experiments on tetraploids and diploids were carried out to evaluate the morphological and yield traits of both plants. Also, some cytological studies and Gas Chromatography (GC) analysis were conducted to achieve these goals. The results showed the possibility of realizing diploid and tetraploid plants in early growing black seeds in the field (mainly after the first cotyledon leaves). This crucial outcome can support plant breeders in identifying polyploidy during the seedling stage without referring to biochemical markers, flow cytometry, and cytological traits. All morphological and yield-related traits were superior in diploid plants compared to tetraploids. The results showed that diploid and tetraploid plants exhibited plant heights of 116 cm and 95 cm, numbers of secondary branches of 112 and 22, numbers of flowers of 111.7 and 24.75, and shoot fresh weights of 610 g and 147.5 g, respectively. Furthermore, the number of seeds per capsule, seed yield per plant, and oil percentage in diploids were 97.5 seeds, 24 g, and 22.94%, compared with 35.25 seeds, 4.62 g, and 17.76% in tetraploids, respectively. This work used the cotyledon leaf shape as a morphological marker to distinguish the tetraploid and diploid plants, as diploids are typically taller with pointed cotyledons, whereas tetraploids are shorter with rounded cotyledon tips. This study will create great opportunities for plant breeders to save time and costs during their programs. Further studies on such suggested black cumin breeding programs are needed on diploids, triploids, and tetraploids.

Food-derived carbon dots (F-CDs) are a novel class of carbon-based nanomaterials unintentionally generated during common thermal food processing techniques, such as baking, roasting, frying, and caramelization. These nanostructures exhibit unique optical and chemical properties, including photoluminescence, high aqueous solubility, and tunable surface functionality, making them increasingly relevant to both food science and biomedical research. Recent studies have highlighted their ability to interact with biological systems, particularly the gut microbiota, a critical determinant of host metabolism, immunity, and overall health. This review critically summarizes the current understanding of F-CDs, including their mechanisms of formation, analytical detection methods, and physicochemical properties. It explores their biological fate in the gastrointestinal tract, encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, with a focus on their stability and cellular uptake. Special attention is given to the interaction between F-CDs and the gut microbiota, where evidence suggests both beneficial (e.g., anti-inflammatory, antioxidant) and detrimental (e.g., dysbiosis, inflammatory signaling) effects, depending on the CD type, dose, and exposure context. Additionally, this review addresses toxicological concerns, highlighting gaps in long-term safety data, standardized detection methods, and regulatory oversight. The dual role of F-CDs—as potential modulators of the microbiota and as emerging dietary nanomaterials with uncharted risks—underscores the need for further interdisciplinary research. Future efforts should aim to refine detection protocols, assess chronic exposure outcomes, and clarify structure–function relationships to enable the safe and responsible application of these nanomaterials in food and health contexts.

Agave species are plants with great economic value and multiple possibilities of use as ornamentals, medicinal plants, and fibers, as well as being significant sources of bioethanol. However, their long life cycles hinder their conventional breeding. Therefore, biotechnology tools are the most effective means for clonal propagation and genetic improvement. In vitro micropropagation of A. sisalana via axillary shoot proliferation from bulbil explants was attained using Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with cytokinins (CKs), such as 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (KIN), or thidiazuron (TDZ). The optimum significant shoot proliferation (14.67 shoots/explant) was achieved on 1.0 mg L⁻¹ TDZ. The carry-over effect of CKs on subsequent rooting could be detected. Control and KIN treatments could enhance the rooting of shoots on shoot proliferation media. The regenerated plantlets were acclimatized directly with 100% survival. To mitigate this carry-over effect, that causes hindering further root growth and development, and promote healthy growth of roots, subculturing shoots onto a CK-free medium is a recommended practice. The shoots induced on all BA treatments, and TDZ at 0.5 and 1.0 mg L⁻¹ could be rooted after two subcultures on CK-free medium, then they were acclimatized with 100% survival. However, the higher concentrations of TDZ inhibited in vitro rooting even after two subcultures on CK-free medium, and the acclimatization percentage was reduced by increasing the TDZ concentration recorded from 10 to 0%.

Fermented fruits and vegetables are gaining increased attention due to their enhanced nutritional properties, extended shelf life, and potential health benefits. Driven by consumer demand for natural, plant-based, and functional foods, fermentation is emerging as a sustainable alternative to conventional preservation methods. This review highlights the role of lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms in transforming fruit and vegetable substrates into probiotic-rich, bioactive foods. It explores traditional and emerging fermentation techniques, the influence of microbial consortia on product quality, and the impact of fermentation on antioxidant activity, gut health, immune modulation, and chronic disease prevention. Furthermore, the review addresses food safety concerns related to biogenic amines, nitrite accumulation, and microbial contamination, describing current solutions involving both conventional and non-thermal processing technologies. By synthesizing recent advances in microbial fermentation science and biotechnological innovations, this paper underscores the potential of fermented fruits and vegetables to contribute to functional food development, dietary diversity, and sustainable food systems.