Rapid advancement of nanotechnology has caused serious concerns over the potential release and accumulation of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) in the environment. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in particular, has attracted significant attention due to their broad applications. However, most previous toxicity studies have been heavily focused on animal and human cell lines, with limited information available for the AuNPs plant interactions. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of surface charge on the phytotoxicity and plant uptake of AuNPs by Phaseolus vulgaris (bush bean), an important food crop. The results showed that 5 mg/L of AuNPs exerted inconsequential impact on the physiological processes of plants, regardless of the surface property. However, AuNPs displayed significant surface charge-dependent effects on important biochemical parameters such as the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in plant roots and the activities of several enzymatic antioxidants. Deposition of AuNPs on plant root surface was observed for all types of AuNPs. However, surface charge affected the internalization of AuNPs in plant root cells and their subcellular localization. Overall, the study revealed that the physical and chemical properties AuNPs play important roles in their interactions with agricultural crops and consideration of the unique properties of nanoparticles is important in assessing their food safety concerns.
The antimicrobial property of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) makes it one of the most commonly encountered nanomaterials in commercial products. Consequently, its detection in the environment is highly likely and its potential toxicity has been heavily investigated. While it is now generally agreed that AgNP itself exerts unique toxicity to plants in addition to that of dissolved silver ion, the accumulation and fate of different forms of silver in plant tissues are unknown. This study investigates the phytotoxicity, accumulation, and transport of Ag with different physical and chemical characteristics (e.g., ionic, nanoparticles, and bulk) in two agricultural crop species: Glycine max (soybean) and Triticum aestivum (wheat). The results showed that different forms of Ag demonstrated differential toxicity in these two species, with the Ag ? at the same nominal concentration displaying the strongest effect on plant growth. Exposure to 5 mg/L of elemental Ag in different forms all resulted in significant deposition on the root surface but its morphology and distribution patterns varied considerably. The Ag transport efficiency from roots to shoots differed with both Ag type and plant species. Notably, the upward transport of AgNPs (20-50 nm) was considerably more substantial than that of bulk Ag (1-3 lm). Cell fractionation studies confirmed that all types of Ag were internalized, with the plant cell wall as the predominant place for element accumulation. The findings demonstrate that Ag toxicity and in planta fate vary with particle type and that such considerations are likely necessary to adequately assess food safety concerns upon NP exposure.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.