Micro- and nanogel based on polyetheramine-bisepoxide as new carrier for controlled release of plant micronutrients

• Grant number: 22/13408-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: February 01, 2023
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Eduardo Ferreira Molina
• Grantee: Felipe Breda Alves
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/06552-1 - TASTYGEL: sustainable release of nutrients by smart micro- and nanogels based on polyetheramines-bisepoxide for Agriculture purposes, AP.JP2
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/13820-0 - Engineered Amine-Epoxide Nanogels as New Nutrient Carrier and Application for Sustainable Crop Production., BE.EP.DD

Abstract

Polymeric materials in agriculture and food industry have been arousing great interest from researchers and academics due to their unique properties and broad applicability range. Here we propose to develop micro- and nanogels (from commercially available reagents) based on aliphatic polyetheramines and bisepoxide for agricultural purposes. In particular, the use of these gels for controlled release of nutrients, i.e., Zn, Fe, Co, and Ni for seed coating germination. The gels will be generated by a facile one-pot process through aggregation polymerization of an in situ formed polymer. Moreover, this metodology will allows us to fine-size-tuning the gel particles from the nanometer to the micron scale, capable of controlling of absorbed water content into the gels, simply by adjsuting the monomer concentration and nature - hydrophilic/hydrophobic. We intend to use diepoxide (1,3-Butadiene diepoxide) and branched polyetheramines of the family Jeffamine® T series with molar weight (Mw) of 440, 3000 and 5000 g mol-1. The influence of Mw parameter will be in deep studied for both the prepration of the gels and incorporation/release of the micronutrients cited above. Furthermore, an invetigation of some biologically relevant stimuli as temperature, pH, and oxidation will be evaluated in the release of the micronutrients. The possibility of modulating the profile and release kinetics of nutrients from these gels motivates their understanding both from the conceptual point of view and by the possibility of preparing new multifunctional materials for agriculture purposes. (AU)