title: Uptake and cellular distribution, in four plant species, of fluorescently labeled mesoporous silica nanoparticles.
abstract: We report the uptake of MSNs into the roots and their movement to the aerial parts of four plant species and their quantification using fluorescence, TEM and proton-induced x - ray emission (micro - PIXE) elemental analysis. Monodispersed mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) of optimal size and configuration were synthesized for uptake by plant organs, tissues and cells. These monodispersed nanoparticles have a size of 20 nm with interconnected pores with an approximate diameter of 2.58 nm. There were no negative effects of MSNs on seed germination or when transported to different organs of the four plant species tested in this study. Most importantly, for the first time, a combination of confocal laser scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and proton-induced X-ray emission (micro-PIXE) elemental analysis allowed the location and quantification MSNs in tissues and in cellular and sub-cellular locations. Our results show that MSNs penetrated into the roots via symplastic and apoplastic pathways and then via the conducting tissues of the xylem to the aerial parts of the plants including the stems and leaves. The translocation and widescale distribution of MSNs in plants will enable them to be used as a new delivery means for the transport of different sized biomolecules into plants.
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong Campus at Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3217, Australia.
authors.forename: Dequan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hashmath I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Zhifeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siegele
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cresswell
authors.forename: Lingxue
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cahill
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001692:Biological Transport; D005453:Fluorescence; D018525:Germination; D031297:Lupinus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010316:Particle Size; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011523:Protoplasts; D012639:Seeds / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D014908:Triticum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012822:Silicon Dioxide