Eco-friendly nanoformulations with broad antimicrobial spectrum for the prevention of citrus canker, anthracnose, powder mildew and other diseases that cause damage to national horticulture

• Grant number: 24/23420-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Maicon Segalla Petrônio
• Grantee: Maicon Segalla Petrônio
• Pesquisadores principais: Marcello Alves Nakaishi
• Associated research grant: 24/10513-0 - Eco-friendly nanoformulations with broad antimicrobial spectrum for the prevention of citrus canker, anthracnose, powder mildew and other diseases that cause damage to national horticulture, AP.PIPE
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/05862-8 - Business planning, BP.PIPE

Abstract

Pest management in agriculture is one of the biggest challenges for private companies, technology centers, and research institutions. The development of highly effective products, in line with environmental, social, and corporate governance policies (Environmental, Social, and Governance), has been gaining the attention of investors worldwide. Aware of the demands of the domestic and foreign market for natural products, N&P has been investing in the development of disruptive technologies for pest management, with the aim of offering safe and highly effective nanotechnological solutions, in line with the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SsbD) concept. ). Within this context, the results of the PIPE Phase 1 project (Process No. 2022/05746-0) demonstrated that the nanoformulations Nano OE CR, Nano OE CA, Nano OE TO, and Nano OE OR, have physicochemical stability after 30 days of the experiment, maintaining particle sizes below 200 nm and polydispersity indexes below 0.5. The Nano OE OR was chosen for testing in 'Tahiti' acid limes, which demonstrated that the formulation was able to protect the fruits against the infection of the X. citri bacteria. In addition, the cytotoxicity assays carried out in a HaCaT keratinocyte lineage showed that the product did not interfere with the viability of these cells. The test carried out on Tenebrio molitor showed that the product also did not present acute toxicity after 48 hours of exposure. In view of the above, in addition to filing a patent application for the intellectual protection of nanoformulations, N&P intends to continue the project, advancing to Phase 2, where processing tests are planned in a real environment for citrus fruits, mangoes, and peppers. The nanoformulations will also be tested with agricultural pesticides, often used to control pests, to assess whether they have a synergistic effect. Moreover, based on the verification of the antimicrobial potential presented by the base 8:2 QTS/AS in Phase 1, as well as its physicochemical properties adaptable through the variation in the concentration of polymers, we began to pivot, together with fruit and vegetable producers, new applications for this product, which led to the idea of applying it as a planting gel or even as a diluent, which will act as an adjuvant for pesticides or inputs that are not very soluble in water. In addition, the polymeric blend of chitosan and sodium alginate allowed the creation of a new product, a functional membrane that can be applied as a carrier of fertilizers, pesticides, and soil conditioners, among other possibilities. The film-forming capacity of the 8:2 QTS/AS base also makes it possible to apply it as a dressing in grafting processes, promoting accelerated healing and protecting the plant against invading pathogens. (AU)