Mechanistic understanding of reduced AgNP phytotoxicity induced by extracellular polymeric substances

A knowledge gap concerning the potential effects of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), a common organic material but highly variable in their composition of microbial origin, on the fate and phytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) still remains. A 48-h root elongation toxicity test showed that AgNP toxicity to wheat Triticum aestivum L. was dramatically alleviated by EPS isolated from Pseudomonas putida, as revealed by 7-59% increase in relative root elongation (RRE), 8-99% increase in root weight, 27-32% decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and 11-43% decrease in H2O2 content compared to the treatment with AgNP in the absence of EPS. This was coincident with 7-69% decrease in root Ag concentrations. Our results showed that EPS could protect wheat seedlings from AgNP toxicity by reducing dissolved Ag concentration ([Ag]diss) and by forming AgNP-EPS complex. The FTIR spectra further showed that the amide, carboxyl, and phosphoryl functional groups of EPS were involved in binding with AgNP and/or Ag(+). All these processes worked simultaneously to reduce AgNP bioavailability, and subsequently mitigate AgNP toxicity. These findings highlight the importance of EPS in AgNP biogeochemistry in the terrestrial environment. EPS could be highly useful in developing strategies to counteract the phytotoxicty of metal-based nanoparticles in crops.