Multifunctional polyetheramine-epoxide gels and their prospective applications in health and agriculture

Author(s)

Andrada, Heber E. ; Fico, Bruno A. ; Alves, Felipe B. ; Paulino, Julia M. ; Silveira, Natalia N. ; Dos Santos, Raquel A. ; Montanha, Gabriel S. ; Nuevo, Laura G. ; de Carvalho, Hudson W. P. ; Molina, Eduardo F.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY; v. 48, n. 2, p. 9-pg., 2023-12-04.

Abstract

In this work, nanogels based on polyetheramine-epoxide (PPO-DPEG) were developed, and two potential envisions for the nanocarriers were explored, for the first time, as controlled drug delivery systems and as stimulants for seed germination in agriculture. These nanogels can help reduce the use of hazardous chemicals and expensive instruments, with several advantages: (i) an easy route for their production; (ii) catalyst-free synthesis at low temperature; (iii) water as a unique solvent, which provides advantages in terms of sustainability and cost-effectiveness. First, this study provides a particular drug-polymer design for the sustained release of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. Second, seed germination assays demonstrated that the nanogels could be used as novel materials to promote the germination and growth (root and shoot) of cucumber seeds. In this sense, the root length of cucumber seeds was improved by 39% compared to the negative control (water). The obtained polymeric gels were in depth characterized by various physicochemical techniques such as dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (mu-XRF). The cytotoxicity of PPO-DPEG gels was evaluated by XTT assays, confirming good biocompatibility after exposure to GM07492A cell line (normal human lung fibroblasts). The possibility to use these nanogels for agricultural science is novel, providing good carrier opportunities for embedded micronutrients (and mass production) for the development of an innovative and highly versatile platform for sustainable delivery systems in plants. Excited new insights for future functional and technological applications of polymeric gels as sustainable carriers for health and agricultural purposes was demonstrated. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/06552-1 - TASTYGEL: sustainable release of nutrients by smart micro- and nanogels based on polyetheramines-bisepoxide for Agriculture purposes
• Grantee: Eduardo Ferreira Molina
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants - Phase 2
• FAPESP's process: 20/07721-9 - Time-resolved element mapping and characterization of storage proteins during soybean seeds development: a bottom-up strategy to increase protein content and quality
• Grantee: Gabriel Sgarbiero Montanha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 22/06507-9 - Micronutrient simultaneous release from nanogels based on polyetheramines and bisepoxide
• Grantee: Heber Eduardo Andrada
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 21/14619-9 - Multi-user Equipment approved in grant 2021/06552-1: equipment DLS/zeta potential
• Grantee: Eduardo Ferreira Molina
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program