Nano-Enabled Seed Treatment Using Bisepoxide-Polyoxypropylenetriamine Polymeric Gel with Different Embedded Zinc Sources

Author(s):Show less -

Alves, Felipe B. ; Goni, Adela S. M. ; Fico, Bruno A. ; Silva, Vanessa S. A. ; Orenha, Renato P. ; Parreira, Renato L. T. ; Andrada, Heber E. ; Montanha, Gabriel Sgarbiero ; da Silva, Higor J. F. A. ; de Almeida, Eduardo ; de Carvalho, Hudson W. P. ; Chittolina, Natalia ; Mastrangelo, Clissia B. ; Molina, Eduardo F.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GELS; v. 11, n. 3, p. 19-pg., 2025-02-26.

Abstract

In the 21st century, sustainable agriculture is expected to become a major contributor to food security and improved nutrition. Amine-epoxide-based materials have great potential for use in agriculture due to their tunable physicochemical features, which are dependent on the concentration and composition of the monomers. In this work, catalyst-free green synthesis, using only water as a solvent, was performed to obtain a nanocarrier (TGel) capable of transporting nutrients after seed priming. The synthesis was based on the opening of the epoxy ring by nucleophile attack, using an amine-terminated polyether. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques showed the spherical morphology of the particles, which ranged in size from 80 nm (unloaded TGel) to 360 nm (zinc-loaded TGel), respectively. Theoretical bonding analysis revealed that Zn cation species from the ZnSO4 source interact with the polymer via sigma-bonds, whereas EDTA forms hydrogen bonds with the polymer, thereby enhancing noncovalent interactions. Micro X-ray fluorescence (mu-XRF) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF) provided details of the distributions of Zn in the seed compartments and shoots of cucumber plants after seed priming and plant growth, respectively. The use of the Zn-loaded TGels did not affect the physiology of the cucumber plants, as indicated by the photosynthetic efficacy, chlorophyll, and anthocyanin indices. (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: 22/13408-7 - Micro- and nanogel based on polyetheramine-bisepoxide as new carrier for controlled release of plant micronutrients
• Grantee: Felipe Breda Alves
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• 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
• FAPESP's process: 24/01903-9 - Computational Study of Nutrient Release through Smart Micro and Nanogels for Agricultural Purposes
• Grantee: Eduardo Ferreira Molina
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/03793-5 - Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2017/15220-7: imaging system SeedReporter camera spectral & colour
• Grantee: Clíssia Barboza Mastrangelo
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 23/09543-9 - Molecular characterisation of storage proteins biosynthesis in soybean seeds: assessing the effects of mineral nutrition on protein content and quality
• Grantee: Gabriel Sgarbiero Montanha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 24/11041-4 - Computational Study of Nutrient Release through Smart Micro and Nanogels for Agricultural Purposes
• Grantee: Renato Pereira Orenha
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Support Program for Fixating Young Doctors
• 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: 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)