Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Molecular Effects of Biogenic Zinc Nanoparticles on the Growth and Development of Brassica napus L. Revealed by Proteomics and Transcriptomics

This study investigated how biogenic zinc nanoparticles affect the growth and development of rapeseed plants using proteomics and transcriptomics approaches. While not directly focused on microplastics, the research contributes to understanding how nano-scale particles interact with plant biology at the molecular level.

2022 Frontiers in Plant Science 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Multiomics analysis reveals a substantial decrease in nanoplastics uptake and associated impacts by nano zinc oxide in fragrant rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Researchers found that nano zinc oxide (nZnO) particles form aggregates with polystyrene nanoplastics in the root zone of fragrant rice, physically blocking nanoplastic uptake, while transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that nZnO also restored antioxidant defenses and rescued aroma compound biosynthesis that nanoplastics had disrupted.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Zinc ions enhance tolerance to nanoplastics stress in rice seedlings: Advancing the development and optimization of traditional zinc fertilizers

Researchers tested whether traditional zinc sulfate fertilizer could help rice seedlings tolerate polystyrene microplastic stress, as an alternative to zinc oxide nanoparticles which carry their own environmental risks. They found that appropriate zinc levels reduced oxidative damage through different mechanisms in shoots versus roots, restoring photosynthesis and development. The findings offer a practical, lower-risk strategy for protecting crops from microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitigating the effects of PVC microplastics and mercury stress on rye (Secale cereale L.) plants using zinc oxide−nanoparticles

Researchers applied zinc oxide nanoparticles to rye plants exposed to PVC microplastics and mercury in soil, finding that ZnO-NPs mitigated some of the toxic effects by improving nutrient uptake and reducing oxidative stress. The study suggests nanoparticle-based approaches may help protect crops in microplastic- and heavy metal-contaminated soils.

2024 Land Degradation and Development 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure of maize to polyethylene microplastics and ZnO nanoparticles: Impact on growth, fate, and interaction

Researchers studied the combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles on maize growth in a pot experiment. The study found that co-exposure altered plant growth, the fate of nanoparticles in the soil-plant system, and the interaction between these two common agricultural contaminants, suggesting that microplastics can influence how other pollutants behave in crop production.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Indole-3-acetic acid and zinc synergistically mitigate positively charged nanoplastic-induced damage in rice

Positively charged 80 nm polystyrene nanoplastics had the greatest impact on rice seedling growth, reducing dry biomass by 41% and root length by 46%, while supplemental zinc and indole-3-acetic acid together significantly alleviated the nanoplastic-induced growth inhibition.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Zinc oxide nanoparticles and polyethylene microplastics affect the growth, physiological and biochemical attributes, and Zn accumulation of rice seedlings

Researchers found that both zinc oxide nanoparticles and polyethylene microplastics disrupted growth, physiology, and zinc uptake in two rice cultivars, with nanoparticles having a stronger effect than microplastics, and responses varying by cultivar and dose.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrating Chlorophyll a Fluorescence and Enzymatic Profiling to Reveal the Wheat Responses to Nano-ZnO Stress

Not relevant to microplastics — this study examines how different wheat cultivars respond to zinc oxide nanoparticle stress in soil, using chlorophyll fluorescence and enzyme activity to identify tolerant varieties.

2023 Plants 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptomic and physiological effects of polyethylene microplastics on Zea mays seedlings and their role as a vector for organic pollutants

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics cause transcriptomic and physiological changes in corn seedlings, altering gene expression related to stress responses and growth, while also serving as vectors that increase the bioavailability of organic pollutants to plant roots.

2023 Chemosphere 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrated physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic responses of maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) to nanoplastic-induced stress

Researchers exposed maize and soybean crops to polyethylene and polypropylene nanoplastics in soil and found that high concentrations suppressed plant growth and caused oxidative stress in both species. The nanoplastics accumulated in plant roots and disrupted normal gene activity and metabolism, with soybeans being more sensitive than maize. These findings raise concerns about food crop quality and safety as nanoplastic contamination of agricultural soil increases.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Modulations in protein phosphorylation explain the physiological responses of barley (Hordeum vulgare) to nanoplastics and ZnO nanoparticles

Researchers examined how the co-exposure of barley plants to nanoplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles affects protein phosphorylation and physiological responses. The study found that the combination of nanomaterials increased oxidative stress and altered hormone levels more than individual exposures, suggesting that interactions between nanoplastics and other nanomaterials in the environment may amplify their effects on plant health.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity effects of nanoplastics on soybean (Glycine max L.): Mechanisms and transcriptomic analysis

Researchers exposed soybean plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and observed inhibited stem and root growth, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted photosynthesis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that nanoplastics altered the expression of genes involved in plant stress responses, hormone signaling, and metabolic pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could negatively affect crop growth and yield at the molecular level.

2022 Chemosphere 61 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles co-exposure on nutritional quality of purple waxy maize grains

Researchers investigated the co-exposure effects of polyvinyl chloride microplastics and zinc oxide nanoparticles on purple waxy maize grain quality. Surprisingly, the combination treatment increased ear weight and improved nutritional quality by promoting protein, starch, and amino acid accumulation, suggesting that zinc oxide nanoparticles may help mitigate some negative effects of microplastic soil contamination on crop nutrition.

2025 Food Chemistry 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanotoxicological effects and transcriptome mechanisms of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under stress of polystyrene nanoplastics

Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics affect wheat plants at the molecular level using gene expression analysis. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted genes involved in photosynthesis, hormone signaling, and stress responses, ultimately reducing plant growth. The study provides new insights into how nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could harm crop development at a fundamental biological level.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 148 citations
Article Tier 2

Foliar uptake and leaf-to-root translocation of nanoplastics with different coating charge in maize plants

Researchers showed that nanoplastics can enter maize plants not just through roots but also through leaves, and then travel down to the roots through the plant's internal transport system. Positively charged nanoplastics stuck to leaf surfaces more readily but also caused more damage to photosynthesis and triggered stronger stress responses in the plants. This finding is important because it reveals an additional pathway for nanoplastic contamination of food crops through airborne particles landing on leaves.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 362 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of Micro/Nano-plastics exposure on plants and their toxic mechanisms: A review from multi-omics perspectives.

A multi-omics review of micro/nanoplastic effects on plants found that plastic exposure disrupts gene expression, protein function, and metabolic pathways across multiple plant systems, with potential consequences for crop yield and agricultural food safety.

2024 Journal of hazardous materials
Article Tier 2

A Review on Crop Responses to Nanofertilizers for Mitigation of Multiple Environmental Stresses

This review examines how nanoscale fertilizers can help crops survive environmental stresses like drought, salt, and pollution by improving nutrient delivery at the cellular level. While focused on agricultural benefits, the research is relevant to microplastics because nanofertilizers may help plants cope with microplastic-contaminated soil. However, the authors caution that widespread use of nanoparticles in farming raises its own questions about potential effects on the environment and human health.

2023 Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastic impacts on the foliar uptake, metabolism and phytotoxicity of phthalate esters in corn (Zea mays L.) plants

Researchers investigated how amino-functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics affect the foliar uptake, metabolism, and toxicity of phthalate esters in corn seedlings. The study found that nanoplastics increased the accumulation of phthalate esters in leaves and altered their metabolic pathways within the plant. The findings suggest that nanoplastic pollution may amplify the phytotoxicity of co-occurring chemical pollutants in agricultural settings.

2022 Chemosphere 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Alleviation of Nanoplastic Stress in Rice: Evidence from Biochemical, Cytological, Physiological, and Transcriptome Analysis

Researchers studied how MoO3 nanoparticles alleviate nanoplastic stress in two rice cultivars, finding that MoO3 heteroaggregates with nanoplastics, reducing their uptake and mitigating biochemical, cytological, and transcriptomic stress responses in rice seedlings.

2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Divergent Responses of Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) Cell Wall to Cd Phytotoxicity Affected by Continuous Nanoplastics Stimulation

Researchers exposed rice plants to nanoplastics and cadmium, revealing a dosage-dependent dual effect: low nanoplastic doses immobilized 72% of cadmium in roots, while high doses disrupted cell wall integrity and increased cadmium translocation to shoots by 34%, worsening toxicity.

2025 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Effects of nanoplastics on the growth, transcription, and metabolism of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and synergistic effects in the presence of iron plaque and humic acid

This study examined how nanoplastics affect rice plant growth, finding that the tiny particles were absorbed by roots and entered plant cells. Nanoplastic exposure reduced important enzyme activity and protein levels in roots, disrupting normal plant metabolism. The presence of iron plaque and humic acid in the soil changed how much nanoplastic the plants took up, suggesting that real-world soil conditions play a key role in how crops are affected.

2024 Environmental Pollution 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhancing spinach growth and soil microbial health under sulfadiazine and polypropylene exposure through zinc fortification

Researchers found that zinc oxide nanoparticles can effectively reduce the toxic effects of antibiotics and polypropylene microplastics on spinach plants grown in contaminated soil. The zinc treatment lowered oxidative stress markers by 18-28% while boosting the activity of protective enzymes in roots and shoots. The study suggests that zinc supplementation could be a practical strategy for improving crop health in soils polluted with microplastics and pharmaceutical residues.

2025 Environmental Technology & Innovation 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of nanoplastics uptake on modulation of plant metabolism and stress responses: a multi-omics perspective on remediation and tolerance mechanisms

Researchers reviewed how nanoplastics accumulate in plant tissues and disrupt metabolism, finding that these particles impair nutrient uptake, trigger reactive oxygen species overproduction, and alter gene and protein expression, while multi-omics approaches are revealing the molecular stress-response networks that plants use to tolerate or remediate nanoplastic contamination.

2026 Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants
Article Tier 2

Micro (nano) plastics uptake, toxicity and detoxification in plants: Challenges and prospects

This review examines how micro and nanoplastics are taken up by plants, covering their toxic effects on growth and gene expression as well as potential detoxification strategies. Smaller nanoplastics can penetrate plant cell walls and accumulate in tissues, causing oxidative stress and genetic damage. The findings are important for human health because contaminated crops could transfer microplastics directly into the food supply.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 39 citations