Penetration of nanoparticles in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) calli and regenerants

• We examined the influence of the gold and silver nanoparticles on type and frequency of flax calli regeneration.
• We detected the gold and silver nanoparticles in flax calli and regenerants.
• We demonstrate a method for direct delivery of metal nanoparticles to plant cells by vacuum deposition of metal nanolayers on powdered phytohormone.

We demonstrate a method for direct delivery of metal nanoparticles to flax calli and regenerant cells by vacuum deposition of metal nanolayers on powdered hormone followed by dispersal of the combined hormone-metal in medium. The penetration and location of the gold (AuNPs) and silver (AgNPs) nanoparticles in calli and in plant regenerants were confirmed by optical absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. We detected a significant effect of the AuNPs and AgNPs on the regeneration type of flax calli.