Silver nanoparticles functionalized with the 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonate thiol (AgNPs-3MPS) were synthesized via wet chemical reaction in water and evaluated for their effects on Quercus pubescens seedlings under confined growth conditions. Physicochemicalcharacterizations(UV–vis,DLS,ζ-potential,FESEM-EDX,FTIR/Far-IR,and1H-NMR)confirmedtheformation ofstable,spherical,non-aggregatednanoparticleswithsolid-statediameterof(22± 3)nm,hydrodynamicdiameterof(48± 20)nm, andζ-potentialof(−32± 8)mV,witharetainedcolloidalstabilityforupto30daysduetocovalentAg─Sinteractionsandnegatively chargedsurfacesulfonategroups.SeedlingsexposedtoincreasingAgNPs-3MPSconcentrations(0.1–50µg/mL)foraperiodof45 daysshowedaclearconcentration-dependentresponse.Thelowestconcentrationtested(0.1µg/mL,Agcontent= 0.0418µg/mL byICP-OES)enhancedrootdevelopment,increasingthenumberofroottips,whilemaintainingphysiologicalchlorophylllevels. Incontrast,concentrations≥10µg/mLinducedchlorophyllreductionandtriggeredvisiblestresssymptoms,indicatingtheonset ofphytotoxicityafterprolongedexposure.FESEM–EDXanalysesconfirmedpreferentialnanoparticleaccumulationinroottissues withlimitedtranslocationtoaerialorgans.ThesefindingshighlightedthatAgNPs-3MPShydrophilicityandloadingplayedcentral rolesingoverningAgNPseffectsonseedlings,providingabasisfordesigningtailorednanomaterialsforsustainableenvironmental applications.
Hydrophilic Thiol‐Functionalized Silver Nanoparticles as Bio‐Stimulants in Quercus Pubescens Seedling Development / Mercurio, M., Pagliarani, S., Cerra, S., Kuzminsky, E., Morales‐rodriguez, C., Astolfi, M.L., Vannini, A., Fratoddi, I.. - In: CHEMISTRYSELECT. - ISSN 2365-6549. - (2026). [10.1002/slct.74261]
Hydrophilic Thiol‐Functionalized Silver Nanoparticles as Bio‐Stimulants in Quercus Pubescens Seedling Development
Martina MercurioPrimo
;Sara Cerra
;Maria Luisa Astolfi;Ilaria FratoddiUltimo
2026
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles functionalized with the 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonate thiol (AgNPs-3MPS) were synthesized via wet chemical reaction in water and evaluated for their effects on Quercus pubescens seedlings under confined growth conditions. Physicochemicalcharacterizations(UV–vis,DLS,ζ-potential,FESEM-EDX,FTIR/Far-IR,and1H-NMR)confirmedtheformation ofstable,spherical,non-aggregatednanoparticleswithsolid-statediameterof(22± 3)nm,hydrodynamicdiameterof(48± 20)nm, andζ-potentialof(−32± 8)mV,witharetainedcolloidalstabilityforupto30daysduetocovalentAg─Sinteractionsandnegatively chargedsurfacesulfonategroups.SeedlingsexposedtoincreasingAgNPs-3MPSconcentrations(0.1–50µg/mL)foraperiodof45 daysshowedaclearconcentration-dependentresponse.Thelowestconcentrationtested(0.1µg/mL,Agcontent= 0.0418µg/mL byICP-OES)enhancedrootdevelopment,increasingthenumberofroottips,whilemaintainingphysiologicalchlorophylllevels. Incontrast,concentrations≥10µg/mLinducedchlorophyllreductionandtriggeredvisiblestresssymptoms,indicatingtheonset ofphytotoxicityafterprolongedexposure.FESEM–EDXanalysesconfirmedpreferentialnanoparticleaccumulationinroottissues withlimitedtranslocationtoaerialorgans.ThesefindingshighlightedthatAgNPs-3MPShydrophilicityandloadingplayedcentral rolesingoverningAgNPseffectsonseedlings,providingabasisfordesigningtailorednanomaterialsforsustainableenvironmental applications.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
