Influence of the size and concentration of metal nanoparticles on their biological activity

Churilov Gennady Ivanovich, Obidina Inna Vyacheslavovna, Churilov Dmitry Gennadievich, Polishchuk Svetlana Dmitrievna

The stimulating effect of various nanopowders of metals of different chemical nature on the ontogeny of plants continues to be a subject of numerous studies. As a result of laboratory and field experiments, we found that for nanopowders of iron, copper, cobalt, and zinc with a particle size of 35-60 nm, the correlation of biological activity and the effect of "small doses" is particularly evident. The positive effect is based on the effect of biologically active particles of nanometals at the cell level. Direct dependence of the pH value of the dispersed solution of metal nanopowders on the size and concentration of particles was observed. Certain concentrations of nanoparticles caused an increase in phytohormones in the studied plants. Electron microscopic analysis of the partition of metals in the tissues of experimental plants did not reveal deviations from control values.

Keywords:nanoparticles, ultrafine powders, germination energy, biological activity, enzymes, phytohormones, toxic effect.