Issue 1, 2021

Smart nanocomposites of chitosan/alginate nanoparticles loaded with copper oxide as alternative nanofertilizers

Abstract

In order to best nutrient use efficiency, as required by the increasing food demand for the future global population, in this work an innovative hybrid nanocomposite was designed as an alternative nanoscale fertilizer. An environmentally friendly chemical preparation based on polyelectrolyte complexation was used. A chitosan and sodium alginate complex was selected as a biodegradable shell to release the nanoscale nutrient, CuO nanoparticles. By optimizing the synthesis conditions, i.e. pH and polymer/cross-linker ratio, good stability and accurate size control of the resulting nanocomposites were achieved. The morphology features were evaluated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and chemical characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. All the collected data confirmed spontaneous polymeric aggregation in nanostructures of sperical shape, having a mean diameter of about 300 nm, as well as CuO encapsulation inside the polymeric coating. Moreover, the role of the biopolymer shell in the significant slowing of copper release from the hybrid nanocomposite was reported. Finally, the nanocomposite efficacy in seeding and germination was evaluated on Fortunella margarita Swingle seeds. The tests demonstrated the benefits in the seedling growth together with a synergic effect in developing both the epigean and hypogean parts. The obtained results indicated that the proposed hybrid nanocomposite could be a potential alternative to realize a smart delivery nanofertilizer using an eco-sustainable method.

Graphical abstract: Smart nanocomposites of chitosan/alginate nanoparticles loaded with copper oxide as alternative nanofertilizers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Jul 2020
Accepted
12 Oct 2020
First published
07 Jan 2021
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2021,8, 174-187

Smart nanocomposites of chitosan/alginate nanoparticles loaded with copper oxide as alternative nanofertilizers

M. Leonardi, G. M. Caruso, S. C. Carroccio, S. Boninelli, G. Curcuruto, M. Zimbone, M. Allegra, B. Torrisi, F. Ferlito and M. Miritello, Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2021, 8, 174 DOI: 10.1039/D0EN00797H

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications, without requesting further permission from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given and it is not used for commercial purposes.

To request permission to reproduce material from this article in a commercial publication, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party commercial publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements