Critical Review: Role of Inorganic Nanoparticle Properties on Their Foliar Uptake and in Planta Translocation

There is increasing pressure on global agricultural systems due to higher food demand, climate change, and environmental concerns. The design of nanostructures is proposed as one of the economically viable technological solutions that can make agrochemical use (fertilizers and pesticides) more efficient through reduced runoff, increased foliar uptake and bioavailability, and decreased environmental impacts. However, gaps in knowledge about the transport of nanoparticles across the leaf surface and their behavior in planta limit the rational design of nanoparticles for foliar delivery with controlled fate and limited risk. Here, the current literature on nano-objects deposited on leaves is reviewed. The different possible foliar routes of uptake (stomata, cuticle, trichomes, hydathodes, necrotic spots) are discussed, along with the paths of translocation, via the phloem, from the leaf to the end sinks (mature and developing tissues, roots, rhizosphere). This review details the interplays between morphological constraints, environmental stimuli, and physical-chemical properties of nanoparticles influencing their fate, transformation, and transport after foliar deposition. A metadata analysis from the existing literature highlighted that plant used for testing nanoparticle fate are most often dicotyledon plants (75%), while monocotyledons (as cereals) are less considered. Correlations on parameters calculated from the literature indicated that nanoparticle dose, size, zeta potential, and affinity to organic phases correlated with leaf-to-sink translocation, demonstrating that targeting nanoparticles to specific plant compartments by design should be achievable. Correlations also showed that time and plant growth seemed to be drivers for in planta mobility, parameters that are largely overlooked in the literature. This review thus highlights the material design opportunities and the knowledge gaps for targeted, stimuli driven deliveries of safe nanomaterials for agriculture.