Translocation and transformation of engineered nanomaterials in plant cells and their effect on metabolism

Abstract

As the climate worsens and the demand for food grows, so does the interest in nanoagriculture. The interaction between plants and nanomaterials (NMs) has been extensively and intensively examined. However, stopping at the outcome of a phenomenon is often insufficient. Therefore, we introduce three important processes of nanoparticle-plant interactions: translocation, transformation, and plant metabolism. During the migration of nanoparticles, size and surface electrical properties are the main determining factors. Additionally, the interaction of nanoparticles with cell membranes is another key aspect of research. The transformation of nanoparticles in plants is mainly due to redox substances. The way that nanoparticles affect plant metabolism may be able to shed light on the interaction of nanoparticles with plants. This review adds to the existing knowledge on the design of nanoagrochemicals and summarizes the mechanism of interaction of NMs with plants. In this way, NMs can be used for their beneficial effects and thus contribute to the maintenance of food security and sustainable development.