Plant Nano Biology最新文献

{"title":"ZnO nanoparticles enhance growth and essential oil content and composition in German chamomile by modulating antioxidant activity","authors":"Kazhal Address ,&nbsp;Majid Bagnazari ,&nbsp;Afsaneh Azizi","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>German chamomile (<em>Matricaria chamomilla</em> L.) is a key medicinal and aromatic plant valued for its bioactive compounds across pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. Optimizing the synthesis of these metabolites requires efficient nutrient management. Although zinc is an essential micronutrient involved in plant metabolism, the comparative effects of bulk zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on chamomile growth and phytochemical accumulation remain unclear. This study examined the effects of foliar-applied ZnO and ZnONPs (0, 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg L⁻¹) on growth traits, physiological responses, and essential oil yield and composition. Zinc treatments significantly shifted secondary metabolite profiles, and several compounds absent in the control emerged following Zn application. ZnONPs at 80 mg L⁻¹ markedly increased bisabolol oxide A and artemisia ketone, while 160 mg L⁻¹ enhanced spathulenol, α-bisabolol oxide B, α-trans-bergamotenol, and (<em>E</em>)-β-famesene—compounds with known antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Overall, ZnONPs outperformed bulk ZnO, with 80 mg L⁻¹ producing the greatest improvements in growth, phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and essential oil content, while both 80 and 160 mg L⁻¹ optimized essential oil composition. These results demonstrate the strong potential of ZnONPs as a targeted strategy to enhance growth and high-value secondary metabolites in the plant.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146187406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Silicon dioxide nanoparticles application triggers holistic multi-level reprogramming in Citrus sinensis trees","authors":"Lamiaa M. Mahmoud,&nbsp;Nabil Killiny","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂-NPs) have shown promise as plant biostimulants; however, their physiological, metabolic, and transcriptional effects in perennial fruit crops remain poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the physiological, metabolic, and transcriptomic responses of <em>Citrus sinensis</em> leaves to repeated foliar spray applications of SiO₂-NPs under greenhouse conditions. Plants were foliar-sprayed every 15 days with SiO₂-NPs at 0, 200, 400, and 600 mg L⁻¹. SiO₂-NPs treatment significantly enhanced chlorophyll and phenolics accumulation, recording total chlorophyll of 10.08 mgL⁻¹ and increased total phenolics to 171.0 mg g⁻¹ FW. Volatile organic compound profiling revealed concentration-dependent modulation of terpene emissions, including significant induction of sesquiterpenes. Transcriptome analysis identified 2236 differentially expressed genes (1619 upregulated and 617 downregulated), with significant enrichment in pathways associated with cell wall biosynthesis, cytoskeleton organization, hormone signaling, and photosynthetic function. SiO₂-NPs treatment significantly induces cell wall genes, including pectin methylesterases, expansins, arabinogalactan proteins, and kinesin motor proteins. Additionally, we recorded upregulation of cell cycle regulators, microtubule-associated proteins, and auxin-responsive transcription factors. SiO₂-NPs significantly enhanced primary metabolism, including a nearly ten-fold increase in glucose and accumulation of polyols and inositols. SiO₂‑NPs induced significant shifts in phytohormone profiles, elevating IAA from 19.8 to 56.4 µg/g FW, IBA from 255.3 to 664.7 µg/g FW, IPA from 176.4 to 292.4 µg/g FW, <em>t</em>JA from 35.0 to 62.8 µg/g FW, and ABA from 102.7 to 159.8 µg/g FW, while cinnamic and salicylic acid levels remained unchanged. Our results suggest that the application of SiO₂-NPs maintains plant integrity by coordinating cell wall remodeling, cytoskeletal organization, and hormone-mediated regulatory networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100261"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147420547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A review on nanoformulation of essential oils as an innovative approach for controlling Sitophilus species: Efficacy, mechanisms and challenges","authors":"Akash Kedia","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100262","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100262","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Sitophilus</em> spp., the leading insect pests of stored grain commodities, cause significant economic loss worldwide and are a critical challenge in food security. The conventional techniques currently employed to manage these notorious pests during storage are largely inadequate, thereby underscoring the urgent need for innovative management strategies based on integrated and eco-friendly approaches. Essential oils (EOs), from plants, have gained considerable attention in modern insect pest management strategies due to their natural insecticidal properties in terms of fumigation and contact toxicity, repellent, oviposition deterrent, ovicidal, larvicidal, pupaecidal and antifeedant activities. However, their volatility, poor stability, water insolubility and susceptibility to oxidation often hinder the practical use of EOs in large scale application for successful post-harvest protection of food items. Currently, nanoformulation of EOs has emerged as a promising and innovative strategy to enhance their delivery, stability, solubility and efficacy that extends the shelf life of food items. This review explores the efficacy of EOs against major species of <em>Sitophilus</em> and the innovative approach of nanoformulated EOs for their effective management. It discusses the efficacy of various EO nanoformulations highlighting their mechanisms of action, such as neurotoxic effects, reduced detoxification etc. Furthermore, the review addresses in brief the challenges associated with EO nanoformulations including cost factors, scalability, regulatory and safety concerns. By compiling the latest researches on this field, the review provides insights into the potential of nanoformulated EOs as an innovative tool for the effective management of <em>Sitophilus</em> spp. during post harvest grain storage and offers future perspectives to overcome existing barriers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100262"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147420546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Araucaria heterophylla Resin: Hyalurosomes-based nanocarriers for enhanced antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiviral activity","authors":"Samar M. Aborhyem ,&nbsp;Yasser I. Khedr ,&nbsp;Hesham M. Aly ,&nbsp;Nermin Aly Khamis ,&nbsp;Najla Al Nassar ,&nbsp;Mariam Zewail","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Araucaria heterophylla</em> resin has antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, and antiviral activities, however its low solubility and bioavailability limit its therapeutic applications. Hyalurosomes were loaded with <em>Araucaria</em> resin extract to solve these issues. The resin extract's structure was investigated by NMR and FTIR. Resin-loaded hyalurosomes were prepared and analyzed for particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency. Well diffusion assays, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determinations, DPPH radical scavenging assays, cytotoxicity, and antiviral testing against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in Vero cells were used to evaluate the formulations' biological activities. The selected formulation had a stable zeta potential (-24.2 mV), a high EE (97.67 %), and a smaller particle size (57.73 nm). Compared to free resin, the hyalurosomal formulation showed stronger antibacterial action against <em>Klebsiella</em> pneumoniae (MIC: 15.62 µg/mL) and <em>Candida</em> albicans (MBC: 31.25 µg/mL). Encapsulation enhanced the resin's antioxidant activity (IC50: 132.75 µg/mL vs. 757.45 µg/mL for free resin) and led to robust antiviral activity against HSV-1 (IC50: 8.63 µg/mL). Overall, hyalurosomal encapsulation improves <em>Araucaria</em> resin's pharmacological properties by overcoming solubility and bioavailability issues. Hyalurosomes are intriguing nanocarrier systems for developing new therapeutic medicines, warranting additional <em>in vivo</em> and clinical exploration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100263"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147420571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carboxymethyl chitosan-cinnamaldehyde coated dendritic silica hybrid nanoparticles: A new improved antifungal agent for seed treatment through dual release of terpenes","authors":"Maria Paz García-Simarro ,&nbsp;Maria Mondéjar-López ,&nbsp;Carolina Aguado ,&nbsp;Oussama Ahrazem ,&nbsp;Lourdes Gómez-Gómez ,&nbsp;Enrique Niza","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Regulatory restrictions on synthetic plant protection products (PPPs) have increased the demand for sustainable alternatives that combine antifungal efficacy with environmental safety. This study reports the development of a multimatrix nanosystem (dMSNP–Ger–CMC=CIN) integrating dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (dMSNPs) loaded with geraniol (Ger) and coated with a carboxymethyl chitosan–cinnamaldehyde (CMC=CIN) biopolymer. The hybrid platform enables pH-responsive, sustained release of natural bioactives with dual antifungal and biostimulant functions. Characterization confirmed spherical-dendritic nanoparticles (∼80 nm) and preserved porosity. Encapsulation achieved high efficiency (EE 32.3 %, LC 55.6 %) and stability post-functionalization. Controlled Ger release occurred mainly at basic pH due to CMC swelling. In vitro assays showed strong inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium citrinum, with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) &lt; 1 mg/mL, outperforming free Ger. In vivo tests on Triticum aestivum seeds revealed improved germination, biomass, and pigment balance under fungal stress. After 126 days, biochemical analyses indicated restored chlorophyll and carotenoids, reduced oxidative stress, and recovery of physiological homeostasis. These results highlight dMSNP–Ger–CMC=CIN as a promising eco-friendly nanoformulation for seed protection and sustainable crop management, bridging nanotechnology and natural product-based agriculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100242"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biogenic copper nanoparticles as a novel biocontrol strategy for Ascochyta blight in chickpeas","authors":"Carina Vasquez-Espejo ,&nbsp;M. Florencia Sardo ,&nbsp;M. Teresa Álvarez-Aliaga ,&nbsp;Mariela I. Monteoliva ,&nbsp;Lucio Valetti ,&nbsp;Paulina L. Páez","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ascochyta blight (caused by <em>Ascochyta rabiei</em> infection) is a devastating disease in chickpea crops. Farmers apply fungicides several times once symptoms appear, with poor control efficacy. Chemical fungicides, despite their widespread use, have harmful effects and an environmental impact. The lack of control strategies, plus the impact of excessive fungicide use, underscores the need to explore novel and sustainable biocontrol alternatives. Furthermore, the stability and bioavailability of fungicides could be improved by a formulation as nanoparticles (NPs), by chemical or biological synthesis. While the chemical synthesis requires harmful chemicals and high costs, the biological synthesis uses biological components as reducing and stabilizing agents. Then, the biological synthesis minimizes harmful chemicals and adverse effects on humans, animals, and the environment, in alignment with the “One Health” approach. The nanoscale size is key, as it increases the surface area for contact with the target, thus enhancing the efficacy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of biosynthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) against <em>A. rabiei</em>. The biosynthesized CuNPs (CuNPs2 and CuNPs3) exhibited significantly greater inhibition compared to copper sulfate salt. They showed in vitro inhibition as much as twice that of the copper salt. CuNPs2 and CuNPs3 successfully reduced the disease incidence in chickpea leaves by &gt; 60 % demonstrating their potential as an alternative biocontrol strategy. The superior efficacy of CuNPs was attributed to their nanoscale properties and biogenic synthesis method. The use of bioderived CuNPs represents a promising and cost-effective alternative to traditional fungicides, advocating for more sustainable agricultural practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100222"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nanopriming with carbon dots enhances cotton seed germination and salt tolerance by activating salt-induced ROS signaling to modulate Na+ homeostasis","authors":"Hengheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Wenju Gao ,&nbsp;Ning Wang ,&nbsp;Xiangru Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoyan Ma ,&nbsp;Jing Chen ,&nbsp;Qiuxiang Tang ,&nbsp;Jianxin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil salinity severely reduces agricultural productivity by impairing seed germination and plant growth, thereby threatening the sustainable development of eco-friendly farming worldwide. The utilization of seed nanopriming, specifically using carbon dots (CDs), alleviates the side effects of salt stress during seed germination in cotton (<em>Gossypium hirsutum.</em> L), but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated the impact of CDs priming on cotton seeds by assessing their physiological, biochemical, and transcriptomic responses under salinity stress. Nanopriming with CDs significantly increased seedling root length (205.2 %), germination rate (32 %) and seed vigor index (378.4 %) under salt stress compared with controls (water priming). CDs primed seeds showed significantly lower content of superoxide anion radicals (O₂^•−) and malondialdehyde (MDA) while hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels increased by 42.3 %–48.5 %. Under salt stress conditions, CDs priming also resulted in a significant reduction in Na⁺ accumulation (15.3 % lower than the control) without affecting K⁺ content. Further research found that the enhanced Na⁺ efflux and seed germination induced by CDs priming were substantially suppressed by an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI). Thus, we confirmed that <em>GhRboh</em>-mediated H₂O₂ regulates Na⁺ homeostasis to promote seed germination under salinity. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) results suggested that CDs priming-induced salt stress resistance is likely linked to oxidative stress response, MAPK signaling pathway, cellular ion homeostasis and Ca²⁺-binding proteins. Moreover, CDs priming treatment significantly upregulated the relative expression levels of <em>GhRboh</em> genes, Ca²⁺ influx genes and <em>SOS1/NHX7</em>. These results indicate that <em>GhRboh</em>-mediated H₂O₂ accumulation may modulate Na⁺ homeostasis via the Ca²⁺-dependent Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter system to increase salt tolerance in cotton seed. This study provides novel mechanistic insights into nanomaterial-based seed priming strategies for improving crop resilience in saline soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100225"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synergistic application of biostimulant and selenium nanoparticles enhances drought tolerance in potato through integrated physiological and transcriptomic modulation","authors":"Salem M. AL-Amri","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Drought stress is a major constraint on global potato productivity, necessitating innovative mitigation strategies. This study investigates the potential of exogenous serotonin (5HT) and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), both individually and in combination, as biostimulants to enhance drought resistance in potato. Through integrated physiological, biochemical and molecular analyses, we demonstrate that while individual treatments provide moderate protection, the combined 5HT-SeNPs application significantly enhances water relations, photosynthetic efficiency and water use efficiency under drought conditions. The synergistic treatment achieved superior water retention, optimal osmotic adjustment and enhanced photosynthetic recovery compared to individual applications. Furthermore, 5HT and SeNPs synergistically strengthened antioxidant defenses by reducing H₂O₂ accumulation to control levels while maximizing enzymatic activities (SOD, CAT, POD) and promoting balanced osmolyte accumulation. Phytohormone profiling revealed that the combined treatment effectively modulates stress signaling by maintaining optimal ABA and IAA balance while enhancing SA and JA-mediated defense responses. Transcriptomic analysis identified extensive gene expression changes, indicating comprehensive metabolic reprogramming in photosynthesis, hormone signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and antioxidant pathways. Our findings provide novel insights into the synergistic mechanisms of 5HT and SeNPs-mediated drought tolerance and highlight their potential as an innovative, sustainable strategy to improve potato resilience in water-limited environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100244"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Silica-based nanoencapsulation of proline enhances plant heat stress tolerance via antioxidant and hormonal regulation","authors":"Vanessa A. Avendaño ,&nbsp;Jimmy Sampedro-Guerrero ,&nbsp;Aurelio Gómez-Cadenas ,&nbsp;Carolina Clausell-Terol","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100264","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2026.100264","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heat stress (HS) severely affects plant growth and productivity worldwide. The application of osmoprotectant compounds, such as proline, has been shown to mitigate these effects; however, excessive or uncontrolled proline uptake can lead to pleiotropic effects that compromise plant development. Encapsulation technology offers a promising alternative to achieve a gradual and controlled release of proline, improving its protective efficiency. In this work, proline (Pro) was encapsulated using silica (Si:Pro) and chitosan (Ch:Pro) matrices at different ratios by a spray-drying process, an industrially scalable technique with potential relevance for agricultural applications. The proper homogenization of the Si or Ch matrices with Pro enabled the formulation of suspensions with suitable rheological behavior for efficient atomization. This subsequently allowed effective drying and the obtention of free-flowing particles with high thermal stability compared with non-encapsulated proline, and satisfactory encapsulation efficiencies. These properties allowed the use of Si:Pro and Ch:Pro samples at the three formulated ratios for subsequent biological experiments. In <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em>, free Pro treatment negatively affected root and rosette growth under non-stress conditions, whereas encapsulated Pro, particularly Si:Pro, mitigated these effects through controlled release. Under HS conditions, plants treated with Si:Pro showed markedly enhanced growth, with root length increasing by ∼80 %, rosette area by ∼100 %, and fresh weight by ∼20 % compared with HS-treated controls. Furthermore, Si:Pro treatment promoted a more balanced hormonal profile, characterized by a roughly twofold increase in salicylic acid (SA), a threefold increase in abscisic acid (ABA), and an approximate 50 % reduction in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) relative to HS-treated plants. Moreover, plants treated with Si:Pro + HS exhibited moderate expression of proline biosynthetic genes, increased ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities, and decreased lipid peroxidation, collectively supporting an enhanced redox homeostasis. Therefore, silica-based encapsulation of proline provides a controlled delivery system that reduces toxicity, enhances thermotolerance, and maintains physiological and hormonal balance in <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> under HS. These findings support its potential as a sustainable and scalable strategy to improve plant resilience, while highlighting the need for further optimization and validation across crop systems and environmental conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100264"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147420570","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From soil to shoot plant responses to polystyrene nanoplastics and relevance for sustainable food systems","authors":"Benedetta Pizziconi ,&nbsp;Giuliana Bruno ,&nbsp;Samuela Palombieri ,&nbsp;Francesco Sestili ,&nbsp;Sara Cimini ,&nbsp;Laura De Gara","doi":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.plana.2025.100230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Within the One Health framework, plants represent a critical interface between environmental contaminants and the food web. Among emerging pollutants, polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) are particularly concerning due to their small size, high surface reactivity, and ability to cross biological barriers. PS-NPs can be potentially internalized through roots or leaves, translocated to other organs, and, in some cases, accumulated in edible tissues, posing risks to food safety and human health. This review explores PS-NPs behavior in plants, focusing on uptake mechanisms, translocation pathways, accumulation sites, and physiological and molecular responses in different plant species, both model and crops. While wheat shows tolerance even at high PS-NPs concentrations, species like rice, lettuce, and garlic exhibit growth inhibition, oxidative stress, nutrient imbalances, and genotoxic effects. Transcriptomic studies confirm that PS-NPs alter gene expression linked to redox homeostasis, hormone signaling, and stress responses, though the specific pathways affected differ across species and conditions. Overall, plant species and PS-NPs concentration emerge as key factors determining phytotoxic outcomes. The detection of PS-NPs in edible plant parts highlights a tangible risk for humans. Standardized analytical methods, realistic scenarios, and the identification of molecular markers of tolerance are urgently needed to better assess and mitigate the impact of PS-NPs on agriculture and food safety within the One Health perspective.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101029,"journal":{"name":"Plant Nano Biology","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100230"},"PeriodicalIF":7.7,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145799740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}