title: Chitosan nanoparticles as carrier systems for the plant growth hormone gibberellic acid.
abstract: This work concerns the development of nanocarriers composed of alginate/chitosan (ALG/CS) and chitosan/tripolyphosphate (CS/TPP) for the plant growth regulator gibberellic acid (GA3). ALG/CS nanoparticles with and without GA3presented mean size of 450±10nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.3, zeta potential of -29±0.5mV, concentrations of 1.52×1011and 1.92×1011nanoparticles mL-1, respectively, and 100% encapsulation efficiency. CS/TPP nanoparticles with and without GA3presented mean size of 195±1nm, PDI of 0.3, zeta potential of +27±3mV, concentrations of 1.92×1012and 3.54×1012nanoparticles mL-1, respectively, and 90% encapsulation efficiency. The nanoparticles were stable during 60days and the two systems differed in terms of the release mechanism, with the release depending on factors such as pH and temperature. Bioactivity assays using Phaseolus vulgaris showed that the ALG/CS-GA3nanoparticles were most effective in increasing leaf area and the levels of chlorophylls and carotenoids. The systems developed showed good potential, providing greater stability and efficiency of this plant hormone in agricultural applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campus Universitário Zeferino Vaz, s/n, Cidade Universitária, CEP 13083-870, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology of Sorocaba (ICTS), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida Três de Março, 511, CEP 18087-180, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson Espirito Santo
authors.initials: AES
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology of Sorocaba (ICTS), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida Três de Março, 511, CEP 18087-180, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Mayara
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology of Sorocaba (ICTS), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida Três de Março, 511, CEP 18087-180, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jhones Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Plant Biology, University of Londrina, PR 445, km 380, CEP 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Halley Caixeta
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campus Universitário Zeferino Vaz, s/n, Cidade Universitária, CEP 13083-870, Campinas, SP, Brazil; Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Science and Technology of Sorocaba (ICTS), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Avenida Três de Março, 511, CEP 18087-180, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: leonardo@sorocaba.unesp.br.
authors.forename: Leonardo Fernandes
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Fraceto
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005875:Gibberellins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D027805:Phaseolus / Q000254:growth & development; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012995:Solubility; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005875:Gibberellins; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D011108:Polymers; D011122:Polyphosphates; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; D048271:Chitosan; C007842:gibberellic acid; C005692:triphosphoric acid
keywords: Gibberellic acid; Plant growth regulator; Polymeric nanoparticles; Sustainable agriculture