Journal Article

FZJ-2023-01173

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Loading and Co-Solvent-Triggered Release of Okanin, a C4 Plant Key Enzyme Inhibitor, into/from Functional Microgels

Dittrich, J. ; Kolodzy, F. ; Töpel, A. ; Hofmann, A. ; Groth, G. ; Pich, A. (Corresponding author) ; Gohlke, H. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2023
Elsevier Amsterdam

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/33950  doi:10.1016/j.cej.2023.141631

Abstract: The constantly growing world population leads to increasing demands for food, which challenges modern agriculture manifold. Pests, such as weeds, require the application of agrochemicals to increase crop yield. Due to the environmental impact of these potentially hazardous chemicals, the demand for more efficient formulations is increasing. Promising formulations consist of easily adaptable carriers from which controllable stimuli release the agrochemicals. Here, we investigated poly(N–vinylcaprolactam) (pVCL)-based microgels as a potential carrier for okanin, an inhibitor of the C4 plant key enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, by combining experiments, molecular simulations, and free energy computations. Dynamic light scattering, scanning transmission electron and atomic force microscopy revealed that pVCL microgels collapse and rigidify upon the loading of okanin. The simulations identified loosely adsorbed okanin and tightly bound okanin mediating inter-chain crosslinks. With increasing okanin concentration, stacking interactions of okanin occur with adsorbed and bound okanin. These findings can explain the experimentally observed collapse and the rigidification of the microgels. Based on the atomistic insights, two poly(N–vinylcaprolactam–co–glycidyl methacrylate) microgels were synthesized, for which a doubled loading capacity of okanin was found. Finally, we investigated the triggered release of okanin using the addition of green solvents as a stimulus both in vitro and in planta. This work establishes a basis for the further optimization of pVCL-based microgels as a carrier for the delivery of polyphenolic agrochemicals.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Bioinformatik (IBG-4)
2. John von Neumann - Institut für Computing (NIC)
3. Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC)

Research Program(s):

1. 5111 - Domain-Specific Simulation & Data Life Cycle Labs (SDLs) and Research Groups (POF4-511) (POF4-511)
2. 2171 - Biological and environmental resources for sustainable use (POF4-217) (POF4-217)
3. Forschergruppe Gohlke (hkf7_20200501) (hkf7_20200501)
4. BioSC - Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC) (BioSC)

Appears in the scientific report 2023

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Database coverage:
; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Engineering, Computing and Technology ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 15 ; JCR ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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