Ionome mapping and amino acid metabolome profiling of Phaseolus vulgaris L. seeds imbibed with computationally informed phytoengineered copper sulphide nanoparticles

• Published in: Discover nano Vol. 19; no. 1; p. 8
• Main Authors: Botha, Nandipha L., Cloete, Karen J., Šmit, Žiga, Isaković, Kristina, Akbari, Mahmood, Morad, Razieh, Madiba, Itani, David, Oladipupo Moyinoluwa, Santos, Luis P. M., Dube, Admire, Pelicon, Primoz, Maaza, Malik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 04.01.2024; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Amino acid; Amino acids; Avocado-seed-extract; Chemical analysis; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copper; Copper sulfides; CuS; Distribution patterns; Electron microscopy; Fourier transforms; Infrared spectroscopy; Ion beams; Materials Science; Metabolism; Microscopy; Molecular dynamics; Molecular Medicine; Nanochemistry; Nanofertilizer; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; p-Hydroxybenzoic acid; Phaseolus vulgaris; Pinto beans; Plant stress; Proton beams; Reducing agents; Seeds; Sulfides; Transmission electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction; CuS; Amino acid; Avocado-seed-extract; Nanofertilizer; Phaseolus vulgaris
• ISSN: 2731-9229; 1931-7573; 2731-9229; 1556-276X
• DOI: 10.1186/s11671-023-03953-y

This study reports the effects of a computationally informed and avocado-seed mediated Phyto engineered CuS nanoparticles as fertilizing agent on the ionome and amino acid metabolome of Pinto bean seeds using both bench top and ion beam analytical techniques. Physico-chemical analysis of the Phyto engineered nanoparticles with scanning-electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of CuS nanoparticles. Molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interaction of some active phytocompounds in avocado seeds that act as reducing agents with the nano-digenite further showed that 4-hydroxybenzoic acid had a higher affinity for interacting with the nanoparticle’s surface than other active compounds. Seeds treated with the digenite nanoparticles exhibited a unique ionome distribution pattern as determined with external beam proton-induced X-ray emission, with hotspots of Cu and S appearing in the hilum and micropyle area that indicated a possible uptake mechanism via the seed coat. The nano-digenite also triggered a plant stress response by slightly altering seed amino acid metabolism. Ultimately, the nano-digenite may have important implications as a seed protective or nutritive agent as advised by its unique distribution pattern and effect on amino acid metabolism. Graphical abstract