Localization of coated iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on tomato seeds and their effects on growth

Lau, E. C.H.T., Carvalho, L. B., Pereira, A. E.S., Montanha, G. S., Corrêa, C. G., Carvalho, H. W.P., Ganin, A. Y. , Fraceto, L. and Yiu, H. H.P. (2020) Localization of coated iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on tomato seeds and their effects on growth. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 3(7), pp. 4109-4117. (doi: 10.1021/acsabm.0c00216)

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Abstract

IFood demand due to the growing population globally has been stretching the agriculture sector to the limit. This demands the cultivation of plants in shrinking land areas which makes the search for highly effective systems for plant nutrition and pest control important. In this context, the application of nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture can have a transformative effect on food production techniques as it can enable the delivery of bioactive agents (including growth factors, pesticides and fungicides) directly to plants. Herein we report the application of unfunctionalized as well as amine-functionalized and polycaprolactone-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NP) to seed treatment and plant growth. The study reveals that the treatment has no side effects on plant germination and development. Furthermore, the penetration of NPs in tomato seeds (Solanum Lycopersicum) and their translocation in tomato seedlings post-treatment depends on the level of the NPs functionalization. The research also demonstrates that a fraction of NP is preferentially translocated to tomato seedling roots and shoots, however, uptake is lower for functionalized NPs (both amine and PCL). Thus, the results suggest that the functionalization of NPs can act as a versatile platform for delivering of active compounds, such as fungicides and growth factor agents.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The authors are grateful to São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP grants 2015/05942- 0, 2015/19121-8, 2017/21004-5 and 2018/23608-8). Also, HHPY would like to thank FAPESP-CONFAP-Newton Fund for the visiting research grant (2018/02413-4). The authors acknowledge financial support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EPSRC grant number EP/L016419/1 for Ph.D. studentship to ECHTL via the CRITICAT program. The scholarships of GSM and CGC are sponsored by Agrichem and Agrivalle, respectively.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ganin, Dr Alexey
Authors: Lau, E. C.H.T., Carvalho, L. B., Pereira, A. E.S., Montanha, G. S., Corrêa, C. G., Carvalho, H. W.P., Ganin, A. Y., Fraceto, L., and Yiu, H. H.P.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
Journal Name:ACS Applied Bio Materials
Publisher:American Chemical Society
ISSN:2576-6422
ISSN (Online):2576-6422
Published Online:21 May 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society
First Published:First published in ACS Applied Bio Materials 2020, 3(7):4109–4117
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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