Polymeric nanoparticles exhibit great potential as effective, value-added delivery systems for medical, food and agriculture applications. In agriculture, the delivery of pesticides and nutrients offer significant improvements over traditional agrochemical formulations. Lately, concerns over safety of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have been voiced, given the lack of knowledge with respect to nanomaterial fate and environmental health, particularly for organic polymeric nanoparticles. Our research explored the effect of two types of polymeric nanoparticles, zein (ZNPs) and lignin-based nanoparticles (LNPs), on plant health, using soybeans as a plant model. The synthesized ZNPs measured 148±5.3 nm in diameter and had a positive zeta potential of +47±4.8 mV, while the lignin-based polymeric nanoparticles measured 82±3.1 nm and had a negative zeta potential of -51±4.3 mV. Both polymeric nanoparticle systems presented a narrow size distribution and a spherical shape. Soybeans were treated with three concentrations of polymeric nanoparticles (0.015, 0.15, 1.5 mg/ml) and samples were collected and analyzed after 1, 3, and 7 days of exposure. The data collected showed a concentration and time-dependent effect on the health of hydroponically grown soybeans exposed to agricultural-relevant ENPs concentrations. The length and biomass of stem and root, and chlorophyll content were not significantly modified by nanoparticles treatment at 1 and 3 days of exposure, while the plant nutrient uptake varied depending on the treatment. ZNPs had a more significant impact than LNPs on nutrient uptake, with a decrease in magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, sulfur, and potassium in roots. Also, zinc, boron, phosphorous and potassium uptake decreased in the stem for this treatment. An increase was found in aluminum, nitrogen and sodium in the roots, and aluminum and sodium uptake in the stem. The soybeans treated with LNPs showed a decrease in boron and potassium, and increase in zinc, sodium, cupper, aluminum uptake in the roots. The uptake of zinc and sodium was increased, and all other nutrients were not significantly different versus controls in the stem of the LNPs treated plants. In general, the cationic nanoparticles (ZNPs) strongly adhered to the roots compared to anionic nanoparticles (LNPs) resulting in more significant effect on plant health. The parameters measured for soybeans support the use of polymeric nanoparticles for sustainable applications in agriculture.

Effects of polymeric nanoparticles on plant health

2019 Spring National Meeting

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