Carrier Nanoparticles for Controlled Release of Assets of Interest in Agriculture

• Grant number: 24/05609-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Valtencir Zucolotto
• Grantee: Mariane Ansoni Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Traditional fertilizers, although essential for plant development, can result in the degradation of soil quality, water and air pollution, and cause resistance in insects considered pests for crops. In light of this, innovative solutions emerge, such as microbial biological control agents (MBCAs), which act as elicitors, capable of interacting with plants inducing resistance or stimulating plants without any direct interaction with the target pathogen. Among the endogenous elicitors, jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) stand out, which are capable of modulating the defense response of plants. Nanotechnology offers a promising approach to optimize Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA), an analogue of JA and SA, by developing nanoparticles that incorporate polysaccharides, such as propylene glycol alginate (PGA). This strategy aims to overcome challenges such as volatility and low water solubility, enabling a controlled release of the compounds over time. This project aims to develop zein nanoparticles coated with PGA to encapsulate and release MeJA and SA, optimizing their effectiveness in regulating the defense response of plants, especially in maturation and fruit quality during storage at room temperature. This study proposes a safe and sustainable alternative for crop fertilization, contributing to significant advances in agriculture through nanotechnology applied to food carriers.