Multifunctional Nanocarriers Based on Chitosan Oligomers and Graphitic Carbon Nitride Assembly

Santiago-Aliste, Alberto ; Sánchez-Hernández, Eva ; Langa-Lomba, Natalia ; González-García, Vicente ; Casanova-Gascón, José (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Martín-Gil, Jesús ; Martín-Ramos, Pablo (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: In this study, a graphitic carbon nitride and chitosan oligomers (g-C3N4–COS) nanocarrier assembly, which was obtained by cross-linking with methacrylic anhydride (MA), was synthesized and characterized. Its characterization was carried out using infrared spectroscopy, elemental and thermal analyses, and transmission electron microscopy. The new nanocarriers (NCs), with an average particle size of 85 nm in diameter and a 0.25 dispersity index, showed photocatalytic activity (associated with the g-C3N4 moiety), susceptibility to enzymatic degradation (due to the presence of the COS moiety), and high encapsulation and moderate-high release efficiencies (>95% and >74%, respectively). As a proof of concept, the visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of the NCs was tested for rhodamine B degradation and the reduction of uranium(VI) to uranium(IV). Regarding the potential of the nanocarriers for the encapsulation and delivery of bioactive products for crop protection, NCs loaded with Rubia tinctorum extracts were investigated in vitro against three Vitis vinifera phytopathogens (viz. Neofusicoccum parvum, Diplodia seriata, and Xylophilus ampelinus), obtaining minimum inhibitory concentration values of 750, 250, and 187.5 µg·mL−1, respectively. Their antifungal activity was further tested in vivo as a pruning wound protection product in young ‘Tempranillo’ grapevine plants that were artificially infected with the two aforementioned species of the family Botryosphaeriaceae, finding a significant reduction of the necrosis lengths in the inner woody tissues. Therefore, g-C3N4-MA-COS NCs may be put forward as a multifunctional platform for environmental and agrochemical delivery applications.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/ma15248981

Año: 2022

Publicado en: Materials 15, 24 (2022), 8981 [18 pp.]
ISSN: 1996-1944

Factor impacto JCR: 3.4 (2022)

Categ. JCR: METALLURGY & METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING rank: 20 / 79 = 0.253 (2022) - Q2 - T1
Categ. JCR: PHYSICS, APPLIED rank: 57 / 160 = 0.356 (2022) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: PHYSICS, CONDENSED MATTER rank: 29 / 67 = 0.433 (2022) - Q2 - T2
Categ. JCR: MATERIALS SCIENCE, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 174 / 343 = 0.507 (2022) - Q3 - T2
Categ. JCR: CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL rank: 84 / 161 = 0.522 (2022) - Q3 - T2

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 5.2 - Materials Science (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.563 - Materials Science (miscellaneous) (Q2) - Condensed Matter Physics (Q2)

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Area Ingeniería Agroforestal (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)
Área (Departamento): Área Producción Vegetal (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)