The complex interplay of nanosilver and wheat roots
Scientists have hypothesized that silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) may act as “Trojan horses” entering living organisms and then releasing silver cations (Ag+) over time, causing toxicity. This has been recently proposed as the mechanism by which Ag2S-NPs could be toxic to wheat and cowpea. New work by a team of French scientists evidences a more complex scheme – although the Trojan horse scenario is very likely to take place. Different reactions of the plant as a function of the initially used silver forms were determined. Data from this study showed drastic different responses of the plant depending upon the starting nanoparticles.
The distribution of silverspecies probably evolves over time, leading to a complex exposition pattern for plants, also exposed to HS- in the case of Ag2S-NPs.
The authors write that these conflicting results usually seen in the literature concerning the toxicity of silver nanoparticles are generally ascribed to differences in exposure conditions, structural properties of nanoparticles, and plant species. This evolving silver speciation may represent an additional source of variability and conflicting results.
Data from this study showed drastic different responses of the plant depending upon the starting nanoparticles, high-lighting the importance to include transformed nanoparticles in ecotoxicological studies.
Although the uptake and translocation of silver was lower for the Ag2S-NPs exposure compared to the Ag-NP exposure, phytotoxicity symptoms were observed.
According to the research team, these results show that the sulfidation of Ag-NPs is not a perfect antidote to toxicity and that Ag2S-NPs are not as stable as expected when exposed to plant roots.
In agricultural soils, the rhizospheric activity of plants might partly dissolve Ag2S, causing some impacts on crop quality and yield and, more generally, on ecological services.
Source: nanowerk news
Source image: wikimedia commons
