Engineered Fe-Mo nanomaterial for dual suppression of pollutant accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and root-zone remediation: Mechanisms and implications for safer crop production

Engineered nanomaterials (NMs) have emerged as promising tools for improving agricultural sustainability. However, their dual capacity to restrict pollutant bioaccumulation while enhancing environmental remediation remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a novel Fe-Mo nanocomplex (Fe@Mo-5) that concurrently addresses both critical challenges in agro-environmental systems. Comprehensive characterization indicated that Fe@Mo-5 exhibited strong stability, high redox activity and excellent nanozyme-mimetic properties, formed protective film on the surface of lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L. ) roots. This barrier effectively reduced the uptake of multiple pollutants, including atrazine (ATZ), ibuprofen and bisphenol A. Notably, the accumulation of ATZ was decreased 60.7 % in roots and 65.7 % in edible leaves, while decreasing its translocation factor from 0.177 to 0.111, significantly lowering dietary exposure risks. Parallelly, Fe@Mo-5 actively participated in ATZ degradation by increasing removal efficiency by 42.5 %, with a safe concentration and sustained ROS generation that balanced efficient ATZ removal with minimal phytotoxicity. Additionally, the application of Fe@Mo-5 significantly improved lettuce growth parameters, including promoting biomass accumulation, photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism without inducing oxidative damage. This work establishes a breakthrough nano-enabled strategy that synergistically combines crop protection with environmental remediation, offering a viable solution for sustainable agriculture and food safety in contaminated environments.