Magnetic (Fe3O4) Nanoparticles Reduce Heavy Metals Uptake and Mitigate Their Toxicity in Wheat Seedling

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution is not only a hazard to living organisms but also an important worldwide environmental concern. Experiments were performed to investigate the physiological mechanisms of magnetic (Fe 3 O 4 ) nanoparticles (nano-Fe 3 O 4 ) mitigation of the toxicity of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu) in wheat seedlings. All the Petri dishes with germinating seedlings (1d) were covered, sealed with parafilm, and placed in a dark growth chamber. All parameters (seedling growth inhibition, heavy metal accumulation, enzymatic activities, and reducing effects of nano-Fe 3 O 4 on heavy metal toxicity) were analyzed only after five days. The results showed that the tested heavy metals significantly affected the growth of wheat seedling by decreasing root length, shoot length and even death at 10 mM concentration in the case of Cd and Cu. Heavy metals exposure also showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidases (POD) activities decreased significantly when the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly higher in wheat seedlings. Addition of magnetic (Fe 3 O 4 ) nanoparticles (2000 mg/L) in each heavy metal solution (1 mM) significantly decreased the growth inhibition and activated protective mechanisms to reduce oxidative stress induced by heavy metals in the wheat seedlings. The reducing effects of nano-Fe 3 O 4 against heavy metals stress could be dependent on the increase in the enzyme activity (SOD and POD). Their protective role was confirmed by the decrease in MDA content. The alleviating effect of nano-Fe 3 O 4 is associated with their adsorption capacity of heavy metals.

Cadmium Uptake by Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): An Overview

“…Heavy metal contamination is not only a threat to living organisms but also a global environmental concern [1]. Cadmium is generally released from industrial activities, such as refining, mining, and plastic manufacturing [2].…”

“…In addition, Cd is persistent and remains in the environment for decades [3]. Several farmlands have been polluted by metals via industrial emissions, fertilizers, and urban waste [1]. The main roles of heavy metals in plant metabolism are the basis of their involvement in reduction/oxidation procedures [4].…”

Response of tomato plants to interaction effects of magnetic (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and cadmium stress

“…glucose semi-cellulose, pectate, and proteins) is significantly increased, suggesting that both mechanisms work together to detoxify cadmium at high concentrations . Nanotechnology has been claimed to have a high potential for reducing the toxicity of heavy metals from the environment, which has been confirmed in the study of Konate et al (2017). Chemical composition, size, surface coating, reactivity, and, most importantly, concentration are factors that determine the performance of nanoparticles.…”

“…Enhancement growth, facilitation of transfer of materials, and exploitation of new Fe fertilizers with nanotechnology as well as nanomaterials may provide alternate methods of eliminating symptoms of Fe chlorosis (Sheykhbaglou et al 2018). Iron oxide nanoparticles are among the most important oxides in the field of nanomaterials, which are also present in nature as nano-sized crystals in the form of both maghemite (Fe 2 O 3 ) and magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) (Bombin et al 2015;Rui et al 2016), and the latter nanoparticles have been successfully used to absorb heavy metal ions such as cadmium (Konate et al 2017).…”

Phytotoxicity of colloidal solutions of stabilized and non-stabilized nanoparticles of essential metals and their oxides

“…Advances of nanotechnology in various fields of human activity contributed to increased production and wider implementation of nanomaterials (Scrinis and Lyons 2007;Ditta and Arshad 2016;Ruttkay-Nedecky et al 2017). Recent evidence suggests the efficiency of metal nanoparticles (NPs) and their oxides in reducing the toxic effects of adverse stressors on crops through the activation of their protective systems, which is a good prerequisite for wider use of nanomaterials in the agriculture as fertilizers or plant protection factors (Abdel Latef et al 2016;Saxena et al 2016;Taran et al 2016;Konate et al 2017). However, increased use of nanomaterials may enhance their release into the environment as well (e.g.…”