Adhesion Peptide‐Functionalized Biobased Microgels for Controlled Delivery of Pesticides

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, vol. 63, pp. e202319832

Abstract

Widespread use of plant protection agents in agriculture is a major cause of pollution. Apart from active ingredients, the environmental impact of auxiliary synthetic polymers should be minimized if they are highly persistent. An alternative to synthetic polymers is the use of natural polysaccharides, which are abundant and biodegradable. In this study, we explore pectin microgels functionalized with anchor peptides (P-MAPs) to be used as an alternative biobased pesticide delivery system. Using copper as the active ingredient, P-MAPs effectively prevented infection of grapevine plants with downy mildew under semi-field conditions on par with commercial copper pesticides. By using anchor peptides, the microgels tightly bind to the leaf surface, exhibiting excellent rain fastness and prolonged fungicidal activity. Finally, P-MAPs are shown to be easily degradable by enzymes found in nature, demonstrating their negligible long-term impact on the environment.

Authors 9

1. Abdulkadir Yayci Aachen

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

2. Tim Sassmann Aachen Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany

3. Alexander Boes Aachen

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

4. Felix Jakob Aachen

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

5. Alexander Töpel Aachen Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany

6. Anne Loreth

   Julius Kühn-Institut

   Affiliation as printed

   Julius-Kühn-Institute Institute for Plant Protection in Fruit Crops and Viticulture Geilweilerhof 76833 Siebeldingen Germany

7. Carolin Rauch

   Julius Kühn-Institut

   Affiliation as printed

   Julius-Kühn-Institute Institute for Plant Protection in Fruit Crops and Viticulture Geilweilerhof 76833 Siebeldingen Germany

8. Andrij Pich corresponding Aachen Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 2 52074 Aachen Germany

9. Ulrich Schwaneberg Aachen Institute of Biotechnology

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials Forckenbeckstrasse 50 52056 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 3 52074 Aachen Germany

   Institute of Biotechnology RWTH Aachen University Worringerweg 3 52074 Aachen Germany