Effects of functional carbon nanodots on water hyacinth response to Cd/Pb stress: Implication for phytoremediation

Phytoremediation is one of the effective, economic and green approaches to cope with the increasing worldwide heavy metal (HM) pollution. Here, we evaluate the effects of functional carbon nanodots (FCNs) against the hyperaccumulation capacity as well as the physiological and genetic responses of water hyacinth under Pb2+ or/and Cd2+ stress. The bioaccumulation efficiency, HM content and transfer factor, biomass, root development, chlorophyll content, antioxidant system and genes expression are investigated at various concentration of HMs. Based on the excellent adsorption capacity and plant growth regulation ability, FCNs and nitrogen doped FCNs (N-FCNs) cooperate with water hyacinth to improve their HMs removal efficiencies. FCNs and N-FCNs immobilize excess HMs ions in plant, smartly regulate enzymatic levels to mitigate oxidative damage, as well as regulate the microelement uptake and related gene expression, thus improve plant tolerance against HMs stress. Although Pb and Cd have antagonistic effects on bioaccumulation of water hyacinth to the single metal, FCNs and N-FCNs can cooperate with water hyacinth to raise the removal efficiency of HMs in water, and enhance plant tolerance under Pb–Cd combined stress. The promotion effects of FCNs and N-FCNs on phytoremediation are more effective than conventional carbon nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes and graphene oxides. These findings demonstrate that the application of FCNs or N-FCNs can improve the phytoremediation efficiency in the restoration of HMs contaminated water area. This study provides important insights into the possibility of using FCNs-based nanomaterials and water hyacinth as synergistic system for remediation of Cd–Pb contaminated water area. [Display omitted] •Functional carbon nanodots (FCNs) & N-FCNs enhance plant tolerance to metal.•FCNs and N-FCNs improve the phytoremediation efficiency in water hyacinth.•FCNs & N-FCNs regulate enzyme level, microelement uptake and gene expression.•FCNs & N-FCNs are cheap, green, biocompatible and of good adsorption capacity.•FCNs & N-FCNs and water hyacinth are synergistic in combined metal remediation.