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

智力价值：这项研究旨在开发一种使用模型植物的纳米材料生产系统。一种常见的卷心菜属植物拟南芥将被用于合成金纳米颗粒，该纳米颗粒将被用于各种工业应用。纳米技术是科学发展的一个迅速崛起的领域，吸引了人们极大的研究兴趣。该装置系统将用于研究不同几何形状和性质的金纳米颗粒的制备。为了实现最佳的生产系统，将标准化生长条件，如剂量、三氯酸钾溶液的pH值、温度和其他影响生长的因素。各种研究表明，纳米材料是由植物启发合成的，但目前还不知道这些纳米颗粒是如何进入植物细胞并运输到植物不同部位的。一旦破译了分子机制，就可以很容易地操纵生产系统来提高效率。这项研究的最终目标是改造植物，以增加金纳米颗粒的运输和生产。传统方法产生的危险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传统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，从而将对环境的影响降至最低。更广泛的影响：这项跨学科的研究调查将是几个学科的融合，包括植物生物学、分子生物学以及定量和分析化学。因此，这项研究为培养和培养纳米技术多学科领域的本科生和研究生提供了一个极好的机会。大多数可能从这项研究工作中受益的学生将是代表不足的学生，或者来自阿巴拉契亚地区农村和经济贫困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，还将通过印度的合作者实验室在国际环境中接受培训。总体目标是提供足够的教育培训，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/国际科学会议上介绍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.