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Innovative Microplastic-Free Carrier System for Crop Protection Agents
Researchers from the University of Twente in the Netherlands and the University of Bayreuth in Germany have successfully created a novel encapsulation system for crop protection agents that eliminates the use of microplastics. Their research findings were recently published in the journal Advanced Materials.
The environmental challenges posed by the use of traditional pesticides in agriculture are significant, making the development of sustainable solutions critical. This research team, led by Professors André Gröschel and Frederik Wurm, has made strides toward addressing these challenges through the synthesis of fully biodegradable block copolymers. These polymers are structured from various segments, or “blocks,” and are derived from polyphosphoesters.
From these copolymers, the researchers produced polymer cubosomes—tiny cubic particles with a well-organized internal structure and pores measuring about 20 nanometers. “We incorporated fungicides into these polymer cubosomes during their formation,” stated Prof. Gröschel. “The resultant cubosomes demonstrated effective antifungal properties against gray mold, a prevalent plant disease.”
Gray mold, also known scientifically as Botrytis, is particularly harmful in crops such as strawberries and grapes. An advantageous feature of these cubosomes is their ability to adhere to grapevine leaves through simulated rain events, releasing the fungicide gradually over several days.
Prof. Wurm noted, “For more than a decade, our team has employed DNA-inspired polyphosphoesters to facilitate drug delivery in medical applications, and now we are harnessing these biodegradable materials for agricultural purposes for the first time. This innovation helps us eliminate the occurrence of harmful microplastics in the environment.”
Doctoral researcher Suna Azhdari, who played a crucial role in this development, added, “Our polymer cubosomes allow for a significantly accelerated release of the active ingredient compared to conventional porous solid particles. This improvement indicates a more efficient method of applying crop protection agents, concurrently minimizing the leaching of excess substances into the soil.”
A key advantage of this new technology is the complete degradation of the cubosomes. “They fully break down into innocuous byproducts such as lactic acid and phosphate derivatives,” emphasized Prof. Wurm. “This positions them as a promising, microplastic-free delivery system for crop protection agents, showcasing their potential to enhance sustainability in agriculture.”
This breakthrough has the potential to greatly enhance the sustainability and efficiency of agricultural practices, providing a viable solution to the issues of microplastic contamination in farming.
More information:
Suna Azhdari et al, Fully Degradable Polyphosphoester Cubosomes for Sustainable Agrochemical Delivery, Advanced Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202406831
Citation:
Microplastic-free carrier system for pesticides shows potential for sustainable agriculture (2024, October 9) retrieved 9 October 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-10-microplastic-free-carrier-pesticides-potential.html
Source
phys.org