RUI: In Planta Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles: An Integrative Eco-friendly "Green Engineering" Approach

智力优势：本研究旨在利用模型植物开发纳米材料生产系统。一种常见的白菜科植物拟南芥（拟南芥）将被用来合成具有多种工业应用的金纳米颗粒。纳米技术是一个快速发展的科学发展领域，吸引了巨大的研究兴趣。该装置系统将用于研究各种几何形状和性质的金纳米颗粒的制备。为了达到最佳的生产体系，生长条件，如用量、氧化氯酸钾溶液的pH值、温度和其他影响生长的因素将被标准化。各种各样的研究表明，植物激发了纳米材料的合成，但目前还不清楚这些纳米颗粒是如何进入植物细胞并被运送到植物的不同部位的。一旦分子机制被破译，生产系统就可以很容易地提高效率。这项研究的最终目标是设计植物来增加金纳米颗粒的运输和生产。传统方法产生的有害物质有可能影响环境和人类健康。因此，这项研究开辟了一种非常规的纳米材料合成方法。拟议的绿色工程生产管道将产生最少的废物，从而减少对环境的关注。更广泛的影响：这个跨学科的研究调查将是几个学科的融合，包括植物生物学，分子生物学，定量和分析化学。因此，本研究提供了在纳米技术多学科领域教育和培训本科生和研究生的绝佳机会。大多数可能从这项研究中受益的学生将是来自阿巴拉契亚地区农村和经济弱势背景的第一代大学生。这些学生不仅将在西肯塔基大学接受培训，还将通过合作伙伴在印度的实验室在国际环境中接受培训。总体目标是提供充分的教育培训，以磨练这些学生在各种实验室技术、撰写科学论文和在国家/国际科学会议上展示研究成果方面的技能。预计该项目将开发纳米技术领域的人力资源，从而增加科学界的多样性。

Intellectual Merit: This research aims at developing a nanomaterial production system using a model plant. A commonly found cress thale (Arabidopsis thaliana) plant of cabbage family will be used to synthesize gold nanoparticles that find varieties of industrial applications. Nanotechnology is a fast emerging area of scientific development attracting immense research interests. This plant system will be used to study the fabrication of gold nanoparticles of various geometries and properties. To achieve an optimal production system, growth conditions such as dosages, pH of potassium aurochlorate solution, temperature and other factors influencing growth will be standardized. Various studies indicate plant-inspired synthesis of nanomaterials, but currently there is no knowledge about how these nanoparticles enter plant cells and get transported to different plant parts. Once the molecular mechanisms are deciphered, the production system can be easily manipulated for efficiency. The ultimate goal of this research is to engineer plants to increase the transport and production of gold nanoparticles. Conventional methods generate hazardous materials that have the potential to affect environment and human health. This research thus opens up a nonconventional approach of nanomaterial synthesis. The proposed green engineering production pipeline will generate minimal wastes, and thus minimal environmental concerns. Broader Impacts: This interdisciplinary research investigation will be an amalgamation of several disciplines including plant biology, molecular biology, and quantitative and analytical chemistry. Therefore, this research provides an excellent opportunity of educating and training undergraduate and graduate students in the multidisciplinary field of nanotechnology. Majority of the students that are likely to be benefitted from this research endeavor will be underrepresented or first-generation college attendees from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds from the Appalachia region. These students will be trained not only at Western Kentucky University, but also in an international setting through a collaborator's laboratory in India. The overall aim is to impart sufficient educational training for honing the skills of these students in various laboratory techniques, writing scientific papers and presentation of research works in national/international scientific meetings. It is anticipated that the project would develop human resources in the area of nanotechnology and thereby increasing diversity in the scientific community.