METAL NANOPARTICLES AND PLANTS

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) belong mostly to the engineered type of nanoparticles and have not only unique physical and chemical properties but also different biological actions. In recent years, noble MNPs and their nano-sized agglomerates (collectively referred to as nanoparticles or particles in the subsequent sections) have been the subjects of much focused research due to their unique electronic, optical, mechanical, magnetic and chemical properties that can be significantly different from those of bulk materials. To enhance their use, it is important to understand the generation, transport, deposition, and interaction of such particles. Synthesis of MNPs is based on chemical or physical synthetic procedures and by use of biological material ("green synthesis" as an environmentally benign process) including bacteria, algae and vascular plants (mainly metallophytes). In biological methods for preparation of metal nanoparticles mainly leaf reductants occurring in leaf extracts are used. MNPs can be formed also directly in living plants by reduction of the metal ions absorbed as a soluble salt, indicating that plants are a suitable vehicle for production of MNPs. These methods used for preparation of MNPs are aimed to control their size and shape. Moreover, physicochemical properties of MNPs determine their interaction with living organisms. In general, inside the cells nanoparticles might directly provoke either alterations of membranes and other cell structures or activity of protective mechanisms. Indirect effects of MNPs depend on their physical and chemical properties and may include physical restraints, solubilization of toxic nanoparticle compounds or production of reactive oxygen species. Toxic impacts of MNPs on plants is connected with chemical toxicity based on their chemical composition (eg release of toxic metal ions) and with stress or stimuli caused by the surface, size and shape of these nanoparticles. Positive effects of MNPs were observed on the following plant features: seed germination, growth of plant seedlings, stimulation of oxygen evolution rate in chloroplasts, protection of chloroplasts from aging for long-time illumination, increase of the electron transfer and photophosphorylation, biomass accumulation, activity of Rubisco, increase of quantum yield of photosystem II, root elongation, increase of chlorophyll as well as nucleic acid level and increase in the shoot/root ratio. However, it should be stressed that MNPs impact on human and environmental health remains still unclear.