Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in a wide range of consumer products because of their excellent antimicrobial properties. AgNPs released into the environment are prone to transformations such as aggregation, oxidation, or dissolution so they are often stabilised by coatings that affect their physico-chemical properties and change their effect on living organisms. In this study we investigated the stability of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) coated AgNPs in an exposure medium, as well as their effect on tobacco germination and early growth. AgNP-CTAB was found to be more stable in the solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium compared to AgNP-PVP. The uptake and accumulation of silver in seedlings was equally efficient after exposure to both types of AgNPs. However, AgNP-PVP induced only mild toxicity on seedlings growth, while AgNP-CTAB caused severe negative effects on all parameters, even compared to AgNO3. Moreover, CTAB coating itself exerted negative effects on growth. Cysteine addition generally alleviated AgNP-PVP-induced negative effects, while it failed to improve germination and growth parameters after exposure to AgNP-CTAB. These results suggest that the toxic effects of AgNP-PVP are mainly a consequence of release of Ag+ ions, while phytotoxicity of AgNP-CTAB can rather be ascribed to surface coating itself.
Highlights
Over the past two decades the application of nanomaterials (NMs) in a broad range of industries as well as in many aspects of daily life has gradually expanded because of their unique chemical and physical characteristics [1]
In this study we investigated the stability of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) coated AgNPs in an exposure medium, as well as their effect on tobacco germination and early growth
In the present study we have investigated the stability of differently coated AgNPs in a nutrient medium, as well as their effect on germination and early growth of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), an important crop plant that is commonly used as a model organism in abiotic stress research [18,19,25, 26]
Summary
Over the past two decades the application of nanomaterials (NMs) in a broad range of industries as well as in many aspects of daily life has gradually expanded because of their unique chemical and physical characteristics [1]. Levels of AgNPs in the environment are difficult to determine as they undergo many reactions that include dissolution, aggregation and chemical complexation which change their speciation and affect the bioavailability of silver [9,10,11]. As a further level of complexity, organic or inorganic compounds that are used for AgNPs stabilisation against aggregation greatly affect their physico-chemical properties [12,13] and can change their behaviour in the environment. Increased application of nanomaterials in agriculture and development of nano pesticides represents a more direct path for plant contact with AgNPs [14,15]. Biotransformation, and translocation of AgNPs by plants could serve as a pathway for their transport and bioaccumulation in food chains [16], creating a risk for the whole ecosystem
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