Nanocoated methylpheophorbiyde-a porphyrin and its use as an inhibitor for the photosynthetic reaction.

• Grant number: 11/01334-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2011
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Moacir Rossi Forim
• Grantee: Luís Felipe Safady
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/57859-5 - Biorrational control of insect pests, AP.TEM

Abstract

From decades agrochemical products are used to increase the agricultural output and to control insects and weeds. Due to adaptation and resistance developed by these plagues each year, greater the amount of pesticides needed to control them and greater the number of new compounds for this purpose in the market. However, those practices are causing undesirable effect of environmental contamination and raising the production costs. As a result, governments are banning the use of certain agrochemicals and creating barriers to production. Trough coordinated actions it is necessary to replace harmful agrochemicals maintaining quality and quantity in production. Therefore, this project goal is to obtain one nanocoated pesticide that inhibits the photosynthetic reaction using methylpheophorbiyde-a and biodegradable polymers. Methylpheophorbiyde-a, a porphyrin, was chosen for its low toxicity, its structure is similar to chlorophylls, and it shows possibility of interacting with weeds' photosynthetic system. As it can show diverse biological functions and replace the natural pigment, this porphyrin may block the flux of electrons leading to plants death. In this project will be prepared nanocapsules and nanospheres for methylpheophorbiyde-a, and its physicochemical properties, quantitatives, UV and thermal stability and release kinetics are going to be found. Each formula is going to be tested on Amaranthus deflexus by analyzing its induction curve of chlorophyll fluorescence. This project will lead to one environmental friendly herbicide, long-acting product, improved physical and chemical properties (solubility, fixation, oxidation resistance etc), development of new technologies, and others.