Zsuzsanna Kolbert, Associate Professor at the University of Szeged in Hungary, is spending three months at the State University of Londrina (UEL) as part of a scientific exchange. With two decades of experience in plant biology and an international reputation in nitric oxide physiology, she came to Brazil motivated by the pioneering work of Professor Halley Caixeta and his group. Her stay has been an opportunity not only to advance collaborative research projects, but also to better understand how scientific knowledge can be applied in practice, in connection with the productive sector.
From Szeged to Londrina: Two Decades in Plant Biology
Professor Zsuzsanna Kolbert currently works at the Department of Plant Biology, University of Szeged, where she has been based for more than 20 years. She leads the MTA-SZTE Momentum Plant NaNObiology Research Group and combines teaching and research activities. Her scientific expertise lies in plant nitric oxide physiology, a field where she has built a strong international track record.
In recent years, she became increasingly interested in the interaction between nitric oxide and nanoparticles, a topic that connects molecular plant physiology with new nanobiotechnological approaches.
Her institution, the University of Szeged, is one of the oldest and most important universities in Hungary, with more than 200 years of history. Located in the southern part of the country, near the Serbian border, it is recognized as one of Hungary’s leading research universities, with 12 faculties, including the Faculty of Science and Informatics, where Kolbert works.
A Pioneer Connection: Why Brazil Became a Destination
Kolbert first connected with Professor Halley Caixeta a few years ago at a scientific conference. Their common ground was research on nitric oxide-releasing nanoparticles, particularly chitosan-encapsulated nitric oxide donors. “Professor Halley is a pioneer in this field, and his group has a lot of experience with nano-encapsulation and examining the effects of these nanoparticles,” she explains. This connection motivated her to come to UEL, to learn more about the group’s work and to conduct collaborative experiments.
Her stay in Brazil has also been an opportunity to see more closely how applied research is developed in partnership with companies and the productive sector. Coming from a background strongly focused on fundamental, mechanistic plant physiology, she wanted to broaden her perspective and observe how outputs from basic science can reach society through applications.
In addition to research, she was also able to fulfill another aspiration: teaching in Brazil. With the support of Professor Halley, she taught eight classes on nitric oxide physiology to undergraduate and graduate students at UEL. “It was very nice to speak about my favorite topic here. And I think it was useful for the students,” she says.
Zinc, Carbon Dots, and the Microscopic World of Plants
During her three-month stay in Londrina, Professor Kolbert has been working on two main projects.
The first project focuses on zinc oxide nanoparticles with different properties. The hypothesis is that characteristics such as particle size and surface charge influence their zinc release capacity and, consequently, their ability to increase zinc levels inside plants. For this study, she used the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and a combination of chemically synthesized, biogenic, and commercial nanoparticles. “As a main result, we discovered differences between the nanoparticles, and those with positive surface charge were the most efficient ones, possibly due to their interaction with the negatively charged root surface,” she notes.
The second project investigates carbon dots, extremely small nanoparticles with fluorescent properties. Here, the goal was to study how these particles are internalized into plant roots. Kolbert tested the hypothesis that clathrin-mediated endocytosis is involved in nanoparticle uptake. For this, she used both genetic and pharmacological approaches, including Arabidopsis mutants deficient in this mechanism. “Currently I am finalizing these experiments, and the plan is to publish the results,” she explains.
Science Across Borders: Building Bridges Through Collaboration
One of the most enriching aspects of Kolbert’s stay has been the collaborative and multidisciplinary nature of the research. For the zinc oxide project, she worked closely with chemists from São Paulo, who prepared and characterized the nanoparticles, and with physicists from UEL, who supported the measurements of zinc levels using advanced techniques. For the carbon dots project, she collaborated with researchers from Mato Grosso, adding another important layer of partnership to her work in Brazil.
This network of collaborations highlights the importance of partnerships between universities and of integrating different fields of knowledge. It is through such cooperation that complex questions in plant nanobiotechnology can be addressed and that science can move closer to real-world applications.
Professor Zsuzsanna Kolbert’s stay at UEL has brought together her long-standing expertise in nitric oxide physiology with the pioneering research on nanoparticles led by Professor Halley Caixeta. Beyond advancing two promising projects, her presence has strengthened the international dimension of the INCT NanoAgro and fostered new opportunities for exchange between Hungarian and Brazilian science.
Her visit shows how collaborations rooted in fundamental research can expand into applied contexts, contributing to both scientific advancement and the development of innovations with impact in agriculture and beyond.
