Genotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles in higher plants

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Plant Biology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly recognized as environmental contaminants.
• Research on NP effects across diverse environmental compartments, particularly higher plants, remains limited.
• Understanding NP genotoxicity in plants is crucial for ecological risk assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize existing literature on the genotoxicity of nanoparticles in higher plants.
• To identify common NP types, plant models, and assay methods used in genotoxicity studies.
• To highlight limitations in current research and propose guidelines for future studies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 29 studies investigating nanoparticle genotoxicity in plants.
• Analysis of NP types (e.g., silver NPs, carbon nanotubes, TiO2, ZnO NPs).
• Evaluation of plant models (e.g., Allium, Nicotiana, Vicia) and genotoxicity assays (e.g., chromosome aberration, micronucleus, comet assays).

Main Results:

• Silver nanoparticles were the most frequently studied NP type.
• Allium sp. was the most common plant model used.
• Genotoxicity was reported in the majority of studies, though often without comprehensive reporting of NP characterization, dissolution, or plant uptake.

Conclusions:

• Nanoparticles demonstrate genotoxic potential in higher plants.
• There is a need for standardized reporting of NP properties and plant interaction data in toxicity studies.
• Proposed guidelines aim to improve the quality and comparability of future NP genotoxicity research in plants.