Molecular characterization of Eco-corona on 65CuO nanoparticles in tropical environment: Understanding the impacts of soil organic matter from oxisol, biochar conditioning, and Amazonian Dark Earth in the rhizobium-root symbiosis at nano-bio interfaces

• Grant number: 23/13881-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Diego Stéfani Teodoro Martinez
• Grantee: Laís Gomes Fregolente
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/50906-9 - INCT 2014: in Functional Complex Materials, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/18015-9 - Investigating at a molecular level the composition of soil rhizosphere that drives eco-corona formation on CuO nanoparticles, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Copper oxide nanoparticles (65CuONPs) are advanced materials for innovation, particularly in agricultural and environmental sciences, where they can be used for the development of fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. Once released in the environment, the nanoparticles undergo changes due chemical, physical, and biological processes, modifying their original (pristine) properties and reactivity. From their interaction with an environment, the nanoparticle surface acquires a molecular coating named "eco-corona". The composition, structure and dimensions of the eco-corona modulates the colloidal behavior of nanoparticles in the medium, as well as their biological effects and toxicity. Different soil types will give nanoparticle a fingerprint, as the eco-coronas generated might show distinct composition which is dictated differently by soil molecular composition. Understand the impacts of eco-corona on biological and ecotoxicological effects of copper oxide nanoparticle is therefore fundamental for both innovation and environmental safety of these materials. Protein-corona is a well consolidate concept regarding biopolymers absorption onto nanoparticle surface, on the other hand more complex matrices of higher organic molecules diversity started to be evaluated as natural organic matter (NOM). However, such approach of soils on corona formation, mainly for the tropical ones, for the best of our knowledge, has not been done yet. This project aims to understand not only soil organic matter, but also how the rhizosphere environment composition dictates the process of eco-corona formation on 65CuO nanoparticle, Moreover, it aims to understand how these eco-corona affects rhizobium-root symbiosis at nano-bio interfaces, through Glycine max model (soybean) development. So, the eco-corona formation will be assessed to isotopically labeled nanoparticle, of very small size, enabling the evaluation of nanoparticle effects at low exposure doses for a more environmental relevant and realistic risk assessment. To do this, soil dissolved organic matter and humic acids from tropical soils (oxisol and Amazonian Dark Earth) and from biochar amendment (oxisol with biochar), root exudate (soybean), and rhizobium protein will be assessed on eco-corona formation separately. Further, mixtures of these extracts will also be evaluated to advance on the understanding of eco-corona modulation. The long-term effects of biochar soil addition on the microbial diversity and soil DOM, and the impact of eco-corona on rhizobium-root symbiosis through soybean early development and root nodulation will be evaluated. This is a novel study that puts together tropical soils, nanoparticle, and the eco-corona approach. Towards safer and sustainable use of nanomaterials, this is strategic for Brazilian scenario aiming agro-environmental nanoparticle development and advancing on biochar application in tropical environment. The data generated in this project will be registered in the NanoCommons Knowledge Base towards international harmonization of nanotechnology and nanosafety; based on nanoinformatics tools for FAIR data through a strategic collaboration with Europe via CompSafeNano ongoing project.