Development of novel magnetic nanocomposites based on hydrogel for evaluation as carrier vehicle of drugs and agricultural inputs

• Grant number: 18/18697-1
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2021 - January 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal researcher: Fauze Ahmad Aouada
• Grantee: Fauze Ahmad Aouada
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEIS). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Ilha Solteira. Ilha Solteira , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Márcia Regina de Moura Aouada ; Renato Grillo

Abstract

With the advances of the world technology, the use of conventional methods in agribusiness is decreasing due to the increase of the use of precision agriculture that appears as a modern mechanism, reflecting a new model of productivity together with environment qualification. Linked to precision agriculture, it can be highlighted in the development of biodegradable hydrogels and their nanocomposites as carrier vehicles for controlled release. In parallel, the economy suffers with high cost of inputs used in the medical area. In this way, biomaterials with less cost have been developed. In addition, by the fact of the drugs need of continuous administration, the conventional methods are no most appropriated for application to patients, whereas that these methods have many collateral effects. In this way, the substitution of these methods by controlled release technology opens new perspectives because when the drugs are applied from conventional methods, their release presents a maximum dosage peak losing this effect, reaching an inefficient level. In this sense, the key innovation of this project is to obtain and characterize of hybrid nanocomposites with iron oxide nanoparticles, and to modify nanostructures, such as nanoclay. Aiming their magnetic properties for application in controlled release of agricultural inputs with reuse possibility and in the medical area as carrier vehicle for the drug controlled release with remote activation. The project has as global objective continue the research, partially funded by this agency, related to the synthesis, characterization, and development of nanocomposites based on polysaccharide and inorganic materials as nanoclay and zeolite for agriculture application. (AU)