Delivery, fate and physiological effect of engineered cobalt ferrite nanoparticles in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Huseyin Tombuloglu; Yassine Slimani; Thamer Marhoon AlShammari; Guzin Tombuloglu; Munirah A Almessiere; Huseyin Sozeri; Abdulhadi Baykal; Ismail Ercan

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129138

Delivery, fate and physiological effect of engineered cobalt ferrite nanoparticles in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Chemosphere. 2021 Feb:265:129138. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129138. Epub 2020 Nov 29.

Authors

Huseyin Tombuloglu¹, Yassine Slimani², Thamer Marhoon AlShammari³, Guzin Tombuloglu⁴, Munirah A Almessiere², Huseyin Sozeri⁵, Abdulhadi Baykal⁶, Ismail Ercan²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Genetics Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: htoglu@iau.edu.sa.
² Department of Biophysics, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Genetics Research, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Adnan Kahveci Mah., Mimar Sinan Cad., Mavisu Evl., 7/28 Beylikduzu, Istanbul, Turkey.
⁵ TUBITAK-UME, National Metrology Institute, P.O. Box 54, Gebze, Kocaeli, 41470, Turkey.
⁶ Department of Nanomedicine, Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam, 31441, Saudi Arabia.

PMID: 33279234
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129138

Abstract

Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CoFe₂O₄ NPs) have received increasing attention in a widespread application. This work examines the fate and impact of terbium (Tb) substituted CoFe₂O₄ NPs on the growth, physiological indices, and magnetic character of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Sonochemically synthesized NPs were hydroponically applied on barley with changing doses (125-1000 mg/L) at germination and seedling (three weeks) stages. Results revealed a significant reduction in germination rate (∼37% at 1000 mg/L); however, a remarkable growth (∼38-65%) and biomass (∼72-133%) increase were detected at three weeks of exposure (p < 0.05). The elements that make up the NPs (i.e., Tb, Co, and Fe) increased significantly in both root and leaf tissues, indicating the translocation of NPs from the root to leaf. Vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis confirmed this finding, where magnetic signals in the root and leaf samples of the control were respectively about 26 and 75 times lower than that of NPs-treated tissues. Also, the accumulation of NPs altered the leaf photoluminescence (PL) behavior, which may have contributed to the biomass increase. Overall, Tb-doped CoFe₂O₄ NPs translocate from root-to-leaf and enhance plant growth, possibly due to i) incorporation of iron within tissues, and ii) changes in photoluminescence. However, since its effects on other living things are not known yet, its agricultural use and release to nature should be considered well.

Keywords: Barley; CoFe(2)O(4); Magnetic behavior; Photoluminescence; Terbium; Uptake.

MeSH terms

Cobalt
Ferric Compounds
Hordeum*
Nanoparticles*
Plant Roots

Substances

Ferric Compounds
cobalt ferrite
Cobalt