THE BUILDUP OF FLUORESCENT QUANTUM DOTS IN THE LEAVES OF ARABIDOPSIS PLANTS IS APPARENT IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH OF THE PLANTS UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT.
CREDIT: Y. KOO/RICE UNIVERSITY
In one of the most comprehensive laboratory studies of its kind, Rice University scientists traced the uptake and accumulation of quantum dot nanoparticles from water to plant roots, plant leaves and leaf-eating caterpillars.
The study, one of the first to examine how nanoparticles move through human-relevant food chains, found that nanoparticle accumulation in both plants and animals varied significantly depending upon the type of surface coating applied to the particles. The research is available online in the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science & Technology.
“With industrial use of nanoparticles on the rise, there are increasing questions about how they move through the environment and whether they may accumulate in high levels in plants and animals that people eat,” said study co-author Janet Braam, professor and chair of the Department of BioSciences at Rice.
Braam and colleagues studied the uptake of fluorescent quantum dots by Arabidopsis thaliana, an oft-studied plant species that is a relative of mustard, broccoli and kale. In particular, the team looked at how various surface coatings affected how quantum dots moved from roots to leaves as well as how the particles accumulated in leaves. The team also studied how quantum dots behaved when caterpillars called cabbage loopers (Trichoplusia ni) fed upon plant leaves containing quantum dots.
“The impact of nanoparticle uptake on plants themselves and on the herbivores that feed upon them is an open question,” said study first author Yeonjong Koo, a postdoctoral research associate in Braam’s lab. “Very little work has been done in this area, especially in terrestrial plants, which are the cornerstone of human food webs.”
Some toxins, like mercury and DDT, tend to accumulate in higher concentrations as they move up the food chain from plants to animals. It is unknown whether nanoparticles may also be subject to this process, known as biomagnification.
Read more: Scientists trace nanoparticles from plants to caterpillars
The Latest on: Nanoparticle accumulation
via Google News
The Latest on: Nanoparticle accumulation
- Exploring the Relationship Between Cannabis Science and Nanotechnologyon May 18, 2022 at 11:28 am
As cannabis science matures in the next few decades, laboratories, nanotechnology approaches and methods, and reference materials should all become standardized.
- N4 Pharma highlights potential of Nuvec® as gene therapy delivery platformon May 18, 2022 at 6:09 am
N4 Pharma’s novel silica-based nanoparticle – formulated with TNF-α pDNA oncotherapy, suppressed tumour growth and improved survival of treated mice compared to untreated controls.This research has ...
- Nanoparticles as Computed Tomography Contrast Agentson May 13, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Conjugation of antibodies, peptides, or other ligands onto the nanoparticle surface produces active targeting agents, which can selectively accumulate on specific cells or tissues. This innovative ...
- Study could provide a new approach to treating metastatic triple negative breast canceron May 13, 2022 at 1:57 am
Nano-PI not only enhanced the delivery of both immunomodulators to lymph nodes and tumors, but also improved the drug accumulation in the macrophages of these two tissues. "What we found was striking, ...
- Stimulus-responsive Macromolecules and Nanoparticles for Cancer Drug Deliveryon May 9, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Nanomedicine. 2010;5(5):793-806. Stimulus-responsive carriers provide additional opportunities to improve the tumor accumulation of systemically delivered drug carriers by triggering changes in ...
- Changeable net charge on nanoparticles facilitates intratumor accumulation and penetrationon May 9, 2022 at 7:57 am
Nanoparticles can enter tumor tissues through EPR effect. - PGlu(DET-Car) is a polyzwitterion which becomes cationic at tumorous pH. - PGlu(DET-Car)-coated nanoparticles achieves the effective tumor ...
- Confidence in Bubble Printing for Hierarchical Nanoparticle Assemblyon May 2, 2022 at 3:39 pm
This lays the groundwork for future research into the assembly of nanoparticles and the accumulation of optically driven MBs at the interface surface of a substance. In laser-driven methods, the laser ...
- Seeing Nanoparticles in 3D Within Animal Tissueson April 28, 2022 at 5:00 pm
Understanding the pharmacokinetics and distribution of nanoparticles has always been challenging. Researchers can quantify accumulation at the organ level, but at the expense of cellular detail.
- The Worldwide Gold Nanoparticle Industry is Expected to Reach $8.4 Billion by 2026 - ResearchAndMarkets.comon April 1, 2022 at 2:54 pm
The "Gold Nanoparticle Market Research Report by ... It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits. The report provides insights ...
via Bing News