ACS Nano, 14 May, 2026, DOI：https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.6c03622

Mineral-Derived Nanozymes Modulate Plant Redox Homeostasis and Nitrogen Metabolism to Improve Crop Productivity

Wei Wang, Zeying Liu, Shang Wang, Peng Dang, Xiaonan Wang, Guoming Sun, Xiyun Yan, Lizeng Gao*, Kelong Fan*, Jianjun Jiang*

Abstract

Meeting the growing global food demand under increasingly restrictive environmental conditions requires sustainable strategies that go beyond conventional fertilization. Traditional fertilizers are constrained by diminishing yield returns and increasing ecological costs, underscoring the need for catalytic materials capable of precisely modulating plant metabolism rather than merely supplying nutrients. Here, we report the development of a maifan stone-derived nanozyme fabricated through controlled homogenization and nanomaterialization of a naturally abundant silicate mineral. The resulting nanozyme exhibits intrinsic peroxidase-like activity, enabling it to function as a redox signaling modulator in plants. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization revealed that maifan stone nanozyme (MFS nanozyme) possess robust catalytic stability across a broad range of physiological conditions. Using Nicotiana benthamiana as a model system, we demonstrate that MFS nanozyme finely regulates intracellular redox homeostasis by modulating·OH levels, thereby inducing a mild oxidative stimulus that activates endogenous antioxidant defense pathways. This redox-mediated signaling cascade promotes root system development and improves macronutrient uptake. Compared with the untreated controls, the MFS nanozyme treatment increased the wheat yield by approximately 18%, and this increase was accompanied by increased nutrient accumulation. Notably, the MFS nanozyme also mitigate moderate saline-alkaline stress, indicating their capacity to increase plant stress resistance. Collectively, our findings establish natural mineral nanozymes as a previously unrecognized class of redox homeostasis regulators and micronutrient carriers that integrate catalytic regulation with nutrient utilization to drive sustainable yield enhancement. This work provides a mechanistic framework for the development of low-cost, environmentally friendly nanozyme-based fertilizers, offering a scalable pathway toward next-generation sustainable agriculture.

Article link：https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.6c03622