Page 25 - GM Summer flipbook 2024
P. 25
technology
nutrient uptake
Figure 2. A mesoporous nano silica particle loaded Figure 3. Common modes of nutrient uptake compared to uptake of
with fertilizers.
them a unique ability to load with nutrients, enter plant cells by multiple routes and then deliver their nutrient payload at higher rates than similar spray solutions without NPs. Alternatively, nanoparticles can be engineered from parent materials by being either built up or broken down to reach the optimal size.
The effect of size is a topic of extensive and active nanoparticle research and is usually viewed as the most critical factor in their function. Secondary, but also critical, are the effects of surface charge, texture, and shape. All such NPs characteristicsaredeterminedbythe parent material and details of the
loaded nanoparticles via endocytosis.
synthesis method. Various techniques to synthesize nanoparticles have been developed in the last century and rapid advancement in nano- technology continues to produce new processes for development and manufacturing.
Nanoparticles can be derived from many materials such as natural minerals, as well as metals, oxides, carbon-structures, and organics. Thus, all contribute to the physico- chemical properties of nanoparticles; though NP’s are indeed physical materials in nature, their small size imparts chemical-like properties. Withinthelimitationsprovidedbythe choice of material, characteristics
such as size, texture, and charge can be manipulated to optimize the particle for a specific function.
As shown in Figures 2 and 3, nanoparticles first actively load the inputs in a spray solution and then deliver those ingredients into the plant cells in higher concentrations through a unique mode of uptake called endocytosis. Mesoporous silica-based nanoparticles (MSNs) hold tremendous relevance in modern agriculture due to their specific properties and associated applications.
The company Nano-Yield uses a patented top-down synthetic approach to engineer silica-based
GreenMaster • CGSA • 25