Dr. Yash Boyjoo completed a research fellowship at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign (USA), funded by the COMPASS–CERA program. Working with Junseo Lee in Prof. Qian Chen’s laboratory, he used state-of-the-art X‑ray tomography and electron microscopy to examine tomato leaves and track how nanovaccines interact with plant tissues. The nanovaccines were synthesized at the Center for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, University of Mauritius, under Prof. Archana Bhaw‑Luximon, and underwent plant trials at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station led by Dr. Jason White.
This collaborative study, accepted for publication in Chemical Engineering Journal as “The Art of Evasion at the Nanoscale: Engineered CuS Nanovaccines Resist Extracellular Sequestration in Plants,” reveals a previously unrecognized plant defense mechanism that controls the fate of metal‑based nanoparticles in living plant tissues. By integrating advanced imaging, particle nanoengineering, and mechanistic analysis, the team demonstrates how engineered CuS nanoparticles can be designed to evade sequestration barriers and remain bioavailable. These findings advance the rational design of next‑generation agricultural nanomaterials.
Bridging chemical engineering, materials science, advanced imaging, plant pathology, and environmental sustainability, this work provides mechanistic insight with clear translational potential for developing smarter, more sustainable treatments against crop diseases and environmental stresses.
