Star Polymer Size, Charge Content, and Hydrophobicity Affect their Leaf Uptake and Translocation in Plants

Determination of how the properties of nano-carriers of agrochemicals affect their uptake and translocation in plants would enable more efficient agent delivery. Here, we synthesized star polymer nanocarriers poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(2-(methylsulfinyl)ethyl acrylate) (PAA-b-PMSEA) and poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly((2-(methylsulfinyl)ethyl acrylate)-co-(2-(methylthio)ethyl acrylate)) (PAA-b-P(MSEA-co-MTEA)) with well-controlled sizes (from 6 to 35 nm), negative charge content (from 17% to 83% PAA), and hydrophobicity and quantified their leaf uptake, phloem loading, and distribution in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants 3 days after foliar application of 20 mu L of a 1g L-1 star polymer solution. In spite of their property differences, similar to 30% of the applied star polymers translocated to other plant organs, higher than uptake of conventional foliar applied agrochemicals (<5%). The property differences affected their distribution in the plant. The similar to 6 nm star polymers exhibited 3 times higher transport to younger leaves than larger ones, while the similar to 35 nm star polymer had over 2 times higher transport to roots than smaller ones, suggesting small star polymers favor symplastic unloading in young leaves, while larger polymers favor apoplastic unloading in roots. For the same sized star polymer, a smaller negative charge content (yielding zeta similar to -12 mV) enhanced translocation to young leaves and roots, whereas a larger negative charge (zeta < -26 mV) had lower mobility. Hydrophobicity only affected leaf uptake pathways, but not translocation. This study can help design agrochemical nanocarriers for efficient foliar uptake and targeting to desired plant organs, which may decrease agrochemical use and environmental impacts of agriculture.

Automated summary

The size, negative charge content, and hydrophobicity of nano-carriers affect their uptake and translocation in plants, with smaller carriers favoring transport to younger leaves and larger carriers favoring transport to roots.