Archana Singh, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Botany at the Hansraj College, University of Delhi. Dr. Archana serves as an Editorial board member of Scientific Reports and Frontiers in Plant Sciences. Aryadeep Roychoudhury is a Professor in the Discipline of Life Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India. Indrakant K. Singh is a Professor and Head (TIC) in the Department of Zoology, Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi, New Delhi.

• List of Contributors xxiPreface xxxiAcknowledgements xxxvSection ABasics of Nanotechnology and Its Applications 11 An Introduction to Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Applications and Ethical Issues 3Aryadeep Roychoudhury, Shreyosi Pahari and Reeddhi Banerjee1.1 Introduction 31.2 Methods of Synthesis of Nanoparticles 41.3 Application of Nanoparticles in Crop Improvement 101.4 Applications of Nanoparticles on Human Health 111.5 Risks of Using Nanoparticles 181.6 Ethical Issues of Nanoparticle Application 201.7 Conclusion and Future Prospective 25References 262 An Overview of the Synthesis and Delivery of Nanoparticles in Biological Organisms 37Nikhil Bhosale and Tabassum Khan2.1 Introduction 372.2 Methods of Synthesis of NPs 382.3 Methods of Delivery of NPs to Plants 482.4 Methods of Delivery of NPs in Animals 552.5 Impact of NPs on Biological Organisms 572.6 Conclusion and Future Prospective 58References 59Section B Source and Synthesis of Si/SiO2 NPs 673 Traditional Methods of Synthesis and Characterization of SiNPs for Biomedical Applications and Sustainable Agriculture 69Ruby Panwar and Anjana Rustagi3.1 Introduction 693.2 Synthesis of Silica Nanoparticles 723.3 Physical Methods 723.4 Ion Sputtering Technique 733.5 Arc Discharge Technique 743.6 Chemical Techniques 753.7 Chemical Vapour Deposition 763.8 Precipitation of Chemicals 763.9 Conclusion 783.10 Future Prospective 80References 804 Green Synthesis of Silicon Nanoparticles and Their Application in Agriculture 87P. Shaik Sha Valli Khan, V. Suneetha, S. Naseem, S. Khader Basha, P. Ganseh, K. Pallavi, D. Suresh and O.N. Tiwari4.1 Introduction 874.2 Different Methods for the Synthesis of SiNPs 894.3 Characterization of SiNP/SiO2 974.4 Application of Si/SiO2 NPs in Agriculture 984.5 Toxic Effects and Safety Concerns 1094.6 Conclusions and Future Directions 110References 1115 ‘From Lab to Life’: An Overview of Synthesis and Delivery of Nanoparticles in Biological Organisms 125Debjyoti Bandhu Banerjee, Kalpak Majumdar, Sagnik Goswami, Sayan Sadhukhan and Anirban Bhar5.1 Introduction 1255.2 Methods of Synthesis of NPs 1265.3 Methods of Delivery of NPs for Animals 1295.4 Methods of Delivery of NPs for Plants 1325.5 Impact of NPs on Biological System 1335.6 Conclusion and Future Prospective 136Acknowledgement 137Glossary 137References 1386 Modes of Applications of Nanoparticles in Plants and Animals 147Braulio Edgar Herrera Cabrera, Rafael Salgado Garciglia, Victor Manuel Ocaño Higuera, Luis Germán López Valdez, Alan Mendoza Alcantara, Francisco Javier Verduzco Miramón and Hebert Jair Barrales Cureño6.1 Introduction 1476.2 Fabrication and Characteristics of Si/SiO2 Nanoparticles 1486.3 Design of Silica Nanoparticles 1496.4 Delivery of SiO2 in Plants 1506.5 Pest and Disease Resistance in Plants 1516.6 Delivery in Animals 1526.7 Fluorescence Imaging 1536.8 Phototherapy and MSN-Based Nanocarriers 1546.9 Positron Emission Tomography 1546.10 Biosensors 1556.11 Conclusion 155References 1567 Technologies to Identify and Characterize Si/SiO2 Nanoparticles 161Vaishali Raikwar7.1 Introduction 1617.2 X-Ray-Based Techniques 1637.2.1 X-Ray Diffraction Measurement 1637.2.2 X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy 1647.3 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy 1677.4 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy 1687.5 Low-energy Ion Scattering Spectroscopy 1697.6 Scanning Electron Microscopy 1717.7 UV-Visible Spectroscopy 1727.8 Others 1737.9 Conclusion and Future Prospective 178Glossary 179References 1808 Technological Advancements for Characterization of Si/SiO2 Nanoparticles 185Prasann Kumar and Joginder Singh8.1 Introduction 1858.2 Techniques for Identifying Si/SiO2 Nanoparticles 1888.3 Characterization of Si/SiO2 Nanoparticles 2018.4 Importance of Colloidal Stability and Surface Charge 2038.5 Conclusion 206References 2089 Uptake, Translocation and Consequences of Application of Si/SiO2 Nanoparticles (SiNPs) in Plants 213Arun Kumar Maurya, Sujata Rathi, Yogendra Prasad Saksena, Anupam Awasthi, Bharti Kaushik and Sheetal9.1 Introduction 2139.2 Uptake of the Silicon and SiNPs 2149.3 Translocation of SiNPs in Plants 2259.4 Consequences of SiNP Application in Plants 2289.5 Conclusion and Future Prospective 243References 243Section C Applications of Si/SiO 2 NPs in Plants 26310 Role of Si/SiO2 NPs in Mitigation of Biotic Stress Caused Due to Herbivory 265Shrishti Naidu, Indrakant K. Singh and Archana Singh10.1 Introduction 26510.2 Impact of Herbivory on Crop Production 26710.3 Application of Si/SiO2 NPs Causes Enhanced Plant Defence Against Herbivory 26810.4 Cell Signalling During Si-Mediated Induced Plant Defence Against Herbivory 27210.5 Mechanisms Involved in Si-Mediated Plant Defence Against Herbivory 27210.6 Conclusion and Future Prospective 276References 27811 Role of Silicon and Silicon-Based Nanoparticles in Mitigation of Heat and Drought Stresses 287Adeeb Rahman, Venkataraja V. Mokshith, Shashi Ranjan, Sumit Kumar Kashyap, Aman Prakash, Ayyagari Ramlal, Dhandapani Raju, Ambika Rajendran and Sreeramanan Subramaniam11.1 Introduction 28711.2 Impact of the Role of Si/SiO2 -NPs in Mitigating Drought and Heat Stresses 28911.3 Application of Si/SiO2 -NPs Causing Tolerance 29211.4 Effect of SiNPs Foliar Treatment on Physiological Parameters 29511.5 Effects of SiNPs Treatment on Gene and Protein Expression 29711.6 Mechanism of Si-Mediated Tolerance 29911.7 Conclusion and Future Prospectives 303References 30412 Role of Si/SiO2 NPs in Mitigation of Heavy Metal Stress 317Naveen Kumar, Prabhavathi Venkat Raman and Archana Singh12.1 Introduction 31712.2 Impact of Si/SiO2 NPs in Mitigation of Heavy Metal Stress on Crop Production 31912.3 Application of Si/SiO2 NPs Causes Tolerance Against Heavy Metal Stress 32112.3.1 Seed Priming 32212.4 Utilizing Si/SiO2 NPs in Conjunction with Biochar to Reduce Heavy Metal Stress 32312.5 Mechanisms of Si-Mediated Tolerance to Heavy Metal Stress 32512.6 Influence of Si/SiO2 NPs on Phytohormone 32512.7 Effect of Si/SiO2 NPs on Photosynthesis and Reactive Oxygen Species 32712.8 Conclusion and Future Prospective 330References 33013 Use of Nanomaterials as Nanofertilizers for Crop Betterment 341Ankur Singh, Subhransu Panda, Sumali Sucharita and Aryadeep Roychoudhury13.1 Introduction 34113.2 Nanofertilizer and Agriculture 34413.3 Types of Nanoparticles Used in Agriculture 34513.4 Forms of Nanomaterial in Agriculture 34813.5 Positive Effects of Nanomaterials 34913.6 Nanotechnology Delivery System 35313.7 Application of Nanoparticles in Plant Growth and Seed Germination 35513.8 Nanoparticles in Abiotic Stress Response 35613.9 Role of Nanotechnology in Plant Nutrition 35813.10 Application of Nanotechnology in Seed Science 35913.11 Positive Effects of Nanomaterials in Crop Protection 36113.12 Nanotechnology and Safety 36313.13 Safety and Regulations for Nanotechnology-Based Agri-products in India 36413.14 Negative Effects of Nanomaterials on Plant Health 36513.15 Conclusion 366References 36714 Benefits of Si/SiO2 Nanoparticles in Developing Climate Resilient Crop Plants: Opportunities and Challenges 387Sagnik Goswami, Sayan Sadhukhan, Kalpak Majumdar, Debjyoti Bandhu Banerjee and Anirban Bhar14.1 Introduction 38714.2 Climate Change: Facts and Consequences 38914.3 ‘Climate Change–Loss of Productivity–Yield Improvement’: the Self-Damaging Loop 39114.4 Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) in Plants due to Climate Change 39214.5 Nanoparticles in Agriculture: A Way Towards Climate-Smart Stress-Tolerant Plants 39314.6 Conclusion and Future Prospective 406Acknowledgement 406Glossary 406References 408Section D Applications of Si/SiO2 NPs in Medicine and Remediation 41915 Si/SiO2 NPs as a Versatile Tool for the Treatment of Cancer 421Aarti Sharma, Disha Mittal, Archana Singh and Indrakant K. Singh15.1 Introduction 42115.2 Si/SiO2 NPs-Based Platforms for Cancer Therapy 42215.3 Active Targeting Tumour Tissues Using Si/SiO2 NPs 42515.4 Passive Targeting of Tumour Tissues Using Si/SiO2 NPs 42915.5 Stimuli-Responsive Therapy Using MSNPs 43415.6 External Stimuli Triggering Drug Delivery 43715.7 Conclusion and Future Prospective 441Glossary 442References 44216 Role of Silicon Nanoparticles (SiNPs) in the Treatment of Dermatitis 453Aparna Sharma16.1 Introduction 45316.2 Dermatitis 45416.3 Contact Dermatitis: Symptoms 45416.4 Contact Dermatitis: Treatment 45516.5 Contact Dermatitis: Immune Response 45616.6 Contact Dermatitis: Treatment Utilizing Silicon Nanoparticles (SiNPs) 46116.7 Conclusion 464References 46417 Si/SiO2 Nanoparticles as a Versatile Tool for the Treatment ofBacterialInfectionsinHuman 469Maya Madhavan, Seena Thomas, R.S. Silpa, Ameen Pareesa Zidhiq and Sabeena Mustafa17.1 Introduction 46917.2 Different Types of Nanocomposites of Si/SiO2 Nanoparticles and Their Biocompatibility and Biodistribution 47117.3 Applications of Silica Nanoparticles in Antimicrobial Therapeutics 47217.4 Conclusion and Future Prospective 479References 48018 Si/SiO2 NPs-Based Therapies for Diagnostic Applications 485Nancy Sanjay Gupta, Shubham Kumar Shrivastav, Archana Singh and Indrakant K. Singh18.1 Introduction 48518.2 Diagnostic Applications of Si/SiO2 NPs 48818.3 Advanced Diagnostic Techniques Using Si/SiO2 NPs 49318.4 Combining Si/SiO2 NPs with AI Machine Learning 49618.5 Si/SiO2 NPs in Combination with Other Nanomaterials 49618.6 Biocompatibility and Toxicity 49718.7 Current Clinical Applications 49918.8 Challenges Due to Application of SiO2 NPs and Regulatory Considerations 50518.9 Commercialization and Future Prospects 50618.10 Conclusion 507References 50819 Si/SiO2 NPs as an Agent for Remediation of Contaminated Soil and Water 515Upasana Medhi, Sampa Paul, Bharat Engleng, Ramesh Chandra Deka and Eeshan Kalita19.1 Introduction 51519.2 Pollutants and their Sources 51819.3 Impact of Pollutants on Flora and Fauna 52119.4 SiNPs-remediation of Agro-Pollutants 52319.5 Nano-Silica-Mediated Remediation of Industrial Pollutants 53019.6 Conclusion and Future Prospective 538Glossary 542References 544Section E Biosafety and Ethics 56320 Environmental Impact, Risk Assessment and Biosafety Issues of Si/SiO2 NPs 565Himanshu, Arun Kumar, Vikanksha and Jatinder Singh20.1 Introduction 56520.2 Environmental Fate and Transport 56720.3 Ecotoxicity and Environmental Effects 56920.4 Risk Assessment and Hazard Analysis 57320.5 Fate and Transport Modelling 57520.6 Environmental Monitoring and Surveillance 57620.7 Biosafety and Health Implications 57720.8 Risk Mitigation and Management 58120.9 Conclusion 584References 58421 Ethical and Societal Considerations and Challenges of Si/SiO2 Nanoparticle Application 591Prasann Kumar and Joginder Singh21.1 Introduction 59121.2 Health Risks due to use of Si/SiO2 NPs: A Moral Issue 59221.3 Moral Consideration for Environmental Sustainability 59721.4 Societal Accessibility and Fairness 60021.5 Ethical Concerns About Transparency and Informed Consent 60321.6 Comprehensive Approach to Address Moral and Societal Impacts 60621.7 Conclusion 608References 609Index 615