Engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have attracted tremendous attention in every sector of society, not only due to their unique properties, but also their potential impacts on the environment and humans. Government interests are mainly due to regulatory purposes, business investments are primarily aimed at improving efficiency which will lead to increased profits, while nonprofit organizations and individuals are interested in unique products that can improve the quality of life. In recent years, increasing awareness has been directed to the applications of ENPs in crop production such as pesticide formulations, protection agents, and nutrient additives. For example, silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) ENPs have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and can reduce the impacts of various plant diseases by serving as antifungal and antibacterial agents. An aerosol process was developed for production and delivery of ENPs for citrus plant foliar uptake. Foliar application is an efficient technique capable of generating nanoparticles with controllable particle sizes and concentrations. Aerosolized nanoparticles were applied consistently to leaf surfaces and were routinely shown to enter the stomata via gas uptake, avoiding direct interaction with soil systems and eliminating potential ecological risks. The uptake and transport of nanoparticles once internalized were investigated systematically by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results revealed that certain fractions of the delivered nanoparticles (dp &lt; 100 nm) enter the leaf following the stomatal pathway, then pass through the stem, and reach the root of the citrus plants. The particle size, surface charge, and concentration influenced nanoparticle translocation. In addition, the nanoparticle application method, the working environment, and the leaf structure are important factors to be considered for successful plant foliar uptake. This data has the potential to accelerate the formulation and use of engineered nanoparticles in maintaining healthy plants and improving crop production.

Nanoparticle surface charge and aerosol size control for foliar efficacious delivery to plant cells and organelles

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.