Nanobiotechnology for Agricultural Stress Tolerance and Environmental Remediation

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 736

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biofuels Institute, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: agricultural environment pollution control and bioremediation; soil remediation; nanotechnology in environmental protection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, China
Interests: nanobiotechnology; agriculture; environment; toxicological evaluation of nanomaterials

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of The Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: nanoparticles; environmental toxicology; environmental remediation; environmental health; green building and sustainable development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials have revolutionized environmental and agricultural practices due to their unique properties and applications. In environmental science, nanomaterials are utilized for water purification, air filtration, and soil remediation, offering efficient and sustainable solutions to pollution challenges. In agriculture, they enhance crop productivity through the targeted delivery of nutrients, pest control, and soil management. This Special Issue will delve into various aspects, including synthesis techniques, characterization methods, environmental fate, toxicological impacts, and regulatory frameworks governing the use of nanomaterials. By highlighting recent developments, challenges, and potential risks, this issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how nanotechnology can contribute to sustainable development in both agricultural stress tolerance and environmental remediation. We welcome the submission of original research articles and reviews by scholars in related fields.

Dr. Xunfeng Chen
Prof. Dr. Feng Wang
Dr. Linjing Deng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanobiotechnology
  • agricultural stress tolerance
  • environmental remediation
  • soil remediation
  • toxicological evaluation

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

26 pages, 7690 KB  
Article
Green Synthesis of Biochar-Supported Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron Using Tea Polyphenol for Efficient Cadmium Immobilization in Soil
by Ziyong Jia, Huizi Wang, Shupei Yuan, Weifeng Zhang and Daijun Zhang
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(19), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15191460 - 23 Sep 2025
Viewed by 383
Abstract
With the increasing severity of cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil and its persistent toxicity, developing efficient remediation methods has become a critical necessity. In this study, sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and tea polyphenols (TP) were employed as reducing agents to synthesize biochar [...] Read more.
With the increasing severity of cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil and its persistent toxicity, developing efficient remediation methods has become a critical necessity. In this study, sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and tea polyphenols (TP) were employed as reducing agents to synthesize biochar (BC)-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), denoted as BH4-nZVI/BC and TP-nZVI/BC, respectively. The effects of dosage, pH, and reaction time on Cd immobilization efficiency were systematically investigated. Both composites effectively stabilized Cd, significantly reducing its mobility and toxicity. Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) results showed that Cd leaching concentrations decreased to 8.23 mg/L for BH4-nZVI/BC and 4.65 mg/L for TP-nZVI/BC, corresponding to performance improvements of 29.9% and 60.5%. The immobilization process was attributed to the reduction of Cd(II) into less toxic species, together with adsorption and complexation with oxygen-containing groups (-OH, -COOH, phenolic) on biochar. TP-nZVI/BC exhibited superior long-term stability, while maintaining slightly lower efficiency than BH4-nZVI/BC under certain conditions. Microbial community analysis revealed minimal ecological disturbance, and TP-nZVI/BC even promoted microbial diversity recovery. Mechanistic analyses further indicated that tea polyphenols formed a protective layer on nZVI, which inhibited particle agglomeration and oxidation, reduced the formation of iron oxides, preserved Fe0 activity, and enhanced microbial compatibility. In addition, the hydroxyl and phenolic groups of tea polyphenols contributed directly to Cd(II) complexation, reinforcing long-term immobilization. Therefore, TP-nZVI/BC is demonstrated to be an efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly amendment for Cd-contaminated soil remediation, combining effective immobilization with advantages in stability, ecological compatibility, and long-term effectiveness. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

26 pages, 3436 KB  
Review
Nano-Enabled Agrochemicals for Heavy Metal Remediation in Agriculture: Current Status, Mechanisms, and Future Prospects
by Muhammad Mudassir Nazir, Guanlin Li, Mohsin Nawaz, Temoor Ahmed, Muhammad Noman, Sanaullah Jalil, Xiaojun Zheng, Xunfeng Chen and Daolin Du
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(20), 1588; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15201588 - 17 Oct 2025
Abstract
Heavy metals (HMs) contamination in agricultural soils poses significant risks to crop production and human health through bioaccumulation in the food chain. While traditional remediation techniques exist, they often face limitations including high operational costs, low efficiency, and time-intensive processes. Nano-enabled agrochemicals have [...] Read more.
Heavy metals (HMs) contamination in agricultural soils poses significant risks to crop production and human health through bioaccumulation in the food chain. While traditional remediation techniques exist, they often face limitations including high operational costs, low efficiency, and time-intensive processes. Nano-enabled agrochemicals have emerged as a promising solution for HM remediation in contaminated soils. In this review, we highlight distinct nano-enabled mechanisms involved in HMs remediation in agricultural soils. Further, this review describes HM remediation potential of three different classes of nano-agrochemicals exhibiting unique physicochemical properties, such as surface charge, controlled release capability, and metal chelating ability, etc. Nano-agrochemicals also enhance plant resilience through multiple pathways, such as the regulation of nutrient profiles and photosynthesis, activation of antioxidant defense systems, modulation of protein and osmolyte synthesis, stimulation of phytohormone pathways, and activation of stress-responsive transcription factors. While nano-agrochemicals show tremendous potential for sustainable agriculture, their environmental impact and safety considerations require careful assessment. The review highlights the need for continued research to fully understand nano-agrochemical interactions with plants and soil ecosystems, and to develop improved strategies for their safe and effective implementation in agricultural systems. Future studies should focus on optimizing nano-agrochemical formulations, investigating long-term effects, and establishing comprehensive risk assessment frameworks. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop