AIBN Seminar Series Encapsulation of Actives into Biodegradable Nano- & Microcarriers via Miniemulsion Protocols

We are pleased to present Prof. Frederik Wurm to speak on the subject Encapsulation of Actives into Biodegradable Nano- & Microcarriers via Miniemulsion Protocols

When: Thursday 29th March 2024

Where: CAI Level 1 Seminar room or online via zoom. Click here to join

Time: 12:30pm-1:30pm

Abstract

Devastating plant diseases and soil depletion rationalize the extensive use of agrochemicals to secure food production worldwide. Extensive spraying harms the environment. The sustained release of pesticides in agriculture is a promising solution to the eco-toxicological impacts and it might reduce the amount and increase the effectiveness of agrochemicals administration in the field. This talk will present our recent works on nano- and microcarriers that promote the sustained release of actives and can be used to treat plant diseases. Biopolymer nanocarriers represent a potentially environmentally friendly alternative due to their renewable origin and biodegradability, which prevents the formation of microplastics. Lignin and other lignocellulosic feedstocks have been the focus of our research and how they can be used to prepare enzyme-responsive release systems in planta [1,2]. The worldwide fungal disease Esca which is responsible for the destruction of large parts of vineyards was treated for the first time by injection of lignin carriers into the stems of living plants. Also transport of lignin particles inside living plants was monitored rendering the in planta delivery of biopolymer-based nanocarriers a promising approach for more sustainable agriculture using chemical or biological actives [3,4].
References
[1] – J.Fischer, S. J. Beckers, D. Yiamsawas, E. Thines, K. Landfester, F. R. Wurm, Adv. Sci. 6, 1802315 (2019)
[2] – S. J. Beckers, L. Wetherbee, J. Fischer, F. R. Wurm, Biopolymers 12, e23413 (2021)
[3] – S. J. Beckers, A. H. J. Staal, C. Rosenauer, M. Srinivas, K. Landfester, F. R. Wurm, Adv. Sci. 8, 2100067 (2021)
[4] –S. Peil, S. J. Beckers, J. Fischer, F. R. Wurm, Mat. Today Bio 7, 100061 (2020)
[5] – T. Machado, J. Grabow, C. Sayer, P. H. H. de Araújo, M. L. Ehrenhard, F. R. Wurm Adv. Colloid Interface Sci 2022, 303, 102645.

Bio

Frederik Wurm leads the Sustainable Polymer Chemistry Group at the University of Twente (Enschede, NL) and acts as an Editor for the “European Polymer Journal”. The broad research interests of Frederik Wurm cover the molecular design and development for new synthetic strategies of novel polymeric materials and focus in recent years on the synthesis of novel biodegradable polymers and the modification and formulation of biopolymers, mostly using anionic ring-opening polymerization. The SPC group designs materials with molecular-defined functions for degradable polymers and nanocarriers for agricultural or biomedical applications, with a special interest in phosphorus-based polymers and lignin-based materials. Frederik received his Ph.D. in 2009 (JGU, Mainz, D). After a two-year stay at EPFL (CH) as a Humboldt fellow, he joined the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Mainz, D) and finished his habilitation in Macromolecular Chemistry in 2016. In 2020, he was appointed as a full professor at UT. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and his research was awarded several times.