Nano technology

What is nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the application of scientific and engineering principles to make and utilize very small things. How small? Not as small as atoms or molecules, but much smaller than anything you can see. Nanotechnology is different from older technologies because many materials exhibit surprising and useful properties when their size is reduced far enough. Researchers who try to understand the fundamentals of these size-dependent properties call their work nanoscience, while those focusing on how to effectively use the properties call their work nanoengineering. Nanotechnology will leave no field untouched by its ground breaking scientific innovations. The agricultural industry is no exception. So far, the use of nanotechnology in agriculture has been mostly theoretical, but it has begun and will continue to have a significant effect in the main areas of the food industry: development of new functional materials, product development, and design of methods and instrumentation for food safety and bio-security. The effects on society as a whole will be dramatic.

Why use Nanotechnology in your Nutritional Product Development?

The ratio of surface area to volume of any material at the nanoscale (10-9) changes so dramatically (three orders of magnitude smaller than 'micro') that the implications for improved efficiency in nutrient delivery, uptake, and utilization are staggering. Bio-chemical reaction involving ‘soft’ nanoparticles occur so much more rapidly than at macroscale that no easily understood comparison is possible.

As a result of these factors, nutrient doses at the nanoscale can be dramatically reduced without any loss of effect. Nutrient effects previously demonstrable only in vitro become plausible in living organisms. For example, since the body deals with soft nanoparticles much differently than macro particles, bioavailability can virtually disappear as a delivery problem. Nanoparticles are readily available for cellular uptake because they are similar in size to the materials cells already utilize. Remember that nanoparticles are, by definition, 100 nanometers or less in at least one dimension. This is the size of a virus.

Nanoparticle

A nanoparticle (or nanopowder or nanocluster or nanocrystal) is a small particle with at least one dimension less than 100 nm.

Surface Area

Surface area is the measure of how much exposed area an object has. It is expressed in square units. If an object has flat faces, its surface area can be calculated by adding together the areas of its faces. Even objects with smooth surfaces, such as spheres, can have well-defined surface area.

Benefits of using nanoparticles

 Smaller particles allow better coverage of surface area
 Nano sized particles can actually pass through the cell wall in plants and animals. We use this process to    deliver at cellular level. Which is more effective then the conventional method.

Effect of Amino Acids on Plants

Agriculture production is a very intensive business and is related to better quality and better yield leading to better profitability. Every Farmers dreams to achieve this goal. However to achieve this goal with advancement of technology, use of fertilizer and pesticides is not adequate. Now is the time to look at Bioenergetics and Biochemical aspects of plants, to achieve the goals of Farmers. Every plant like any organism needs certain components for growth over and above soil, sun, rain and air. The basic component of living cells is Proteins, with building block material, Amino Acids. Proteins are formed by sequence of Amino Acids. Plants synthesize Amino Acids from the Primary elements, the Carbon and Oxygen obtained from air, Hydrogen from water in the soil, forming Carbon Hydrate by means of photosynthesis and combining it with the Nitrogen which the plants obtain from the soil, leading to synthesis of amino acids, by collateral metabolic pathways. Only L-Amino Acids are part of these Proteins and have metabolic activity. The requirement of amino acids in essential quantities is well known as a means to increase yield and overall quality of crops. The application of amino acids for foliar use is based on its requirement by plants in general and at critical stages of growth in particular. Plants absorb Amino Acids through Stomas and are proportionate to environment temperature. Amino Acids are fundamental ingredients in the process of Protein Synthesis. About 20 important Amino Acids are involved in the process of each function. Studies have proved that Amino Acids can directly or indirectly influence the physiological activities of the plant. Amino Acids are also supplied to plant by incorporating them into the soil. It helps in improving the microflora of the soil thereby facilitating the assimilation of nutrients. Foliar Nutrition in the form of Protein Hydrolysate (Known as Amino Acids Liquid) and foliar spray provide readymade building blocks for Protein synthesis.

Action on stomas with the help of amino acids

Stomas are the cellular structures that control the hydric balance of the plant, the macro and micronutrient absorption and the absorption of gases. The opening of the stomas is controlled by both external factors (light, humidity, temperature and salt concentration) and internal factors (amino acids concentration, abcisic acid etc.) The Stomas are closed when light and humidity are low & temperature and salt concentration are high, when stomas are closed photosynthesis and transpiration are reduced (low absorption of macro & micronutrients) and respiration is increased (Carbohydrate destruction) In this case the metabolic balance of the plant is negative. Catabolism is higher than anabolism. This implies slow metabolism and stops the plant growth. L-glutamic acid acts as a cytoplasm osmotic agent of the “guard cells”. Thus favouring the opening of the stomas.