Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stereocomplexed Microparticles as Quercetin Carriers for Improving Plant Growth During Salinity Stress

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymers and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Stereocomplexed nano- and microparticles composed of a mixture of enantiomeric polylactides (PDLA and PLLA) are often used in biomedical applications. Here, we propose their additional application as a microcarrier for enhancing agricultural production for the first time. For this purpose, the synthesis of enantiomeric polylactides was performed in bulk by employing the ring-opening polymerization method, and the prepared macromolecules were subsequently used for the gram-scale preparation of quercetin-loaded stereocomplexed microparticles by spontaneous precipitation in an organic solvent. This facile approach leads to particles with porous structures and sizes ranging from 2 to 6 μm. Subsequently, the cumulative release of quercetin (Q) was compared in water and sodium chloride solution. Finally, the plant fertilization activity of the obtained Q-loaded microparticles was tested in Pisum sativum L. (green peas). Our strategy provides a novel route for the enhancement of plant growth by biocompatible and biodegradable carriers loaded with flavonoids.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The data can available on request.

References

  1. Ye L, Zhao X, Bao E et al (2020) Bio-organic fertilizer with reduced rates of chemical fertilization improves soil fertility and enhances tomato yield and quality. Sci Rep 10:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56954-2

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Fujiwara M, Shoji S, Murakami Y (2019) Controlled release of phosphate fertilizer using silica microcapsules. Chem Lett 48:658–661. https://doi.org/10.1246/cl.190192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Panche AN, Diwan AD, Chandra SR (2016) Flavonoids: an overview. J Nutr Sci 5:1–15. https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2016.41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Singh P, Arif Y, Bajguz A, Hayat S (2021) The role of quercetin in plants. Plant Physiol Biochem 166:10–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.05.023

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Campión J, Milagro FI, Martínez JA (2009) Individuality and epigenetics in obesity. Obes Rev 10:383–392. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00595.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Chaaban H, Ioannou I, Paris C et al (2017) The photostability of flavanones, flavonols and flavones and evolution of their antioxidant activity. J Photochem Photobiol A 336:131–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2016.12.027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gao L, Liu G, Wang X et al (2011) Preparation of a chemically stable quercetin formulation using nanosuspension technology. Int J Pharm 404:231–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2010.11.009

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bakowska-Barczak AM, Kolodziejczyk PP (2011) Black currant polyphenols: their storage stability and microencapsulation. Ind Crops Prod 34:1301–1309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2010.10.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Chang-Bravo L, López-Córdoba A, Martino M (2014) Biopolymeric matrices made of carrageenan and corn starch for the antioxidant extracts delivery of Cuban red propolis and yerba mate. React Funct Polym 85:11–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2014.09.025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang W, Sun C, Mao L et al (2016) The biological activities, chemical stability, metabolism and delivery systems of quercetin: a review. Trends Food Sci Technol 56:21–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2016.07.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Michalski A, Makowski T, Biedroń T et al (2016) Controlling polylactide stereocomplex (sc-PLA) self-assembly: from microspheres to nanoparticles. Polymer (Guildf) 90:242–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2016.03.049

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Tsuji H (2016) Poly(lactic acid) stereocomplexes: a decade of progress. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 107:97–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2016.04.017

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Brzeziński M, Kost B, Wedepohl S et al (2019) Stereocomplexed PLA microspheres: control over morphology, drug encapsulation and anticancer activity. Colloids Surf B. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.110544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Wojtczak E, Gadzinowski M, Makowski T et al (2018) Encapsulation of hydrophobic vitamins by polylactide stereocomplexation and their release study. Polym Int 67:1523–1534. https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.5674

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Boi S, Dellacasa E, Bianchini P et al (2019) Encapsulated functionalized stereocomplex PLA particles: an effective system to support mucolytic enzymes. Colloids Surf B 179:190–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.03.071

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. de Araújo FF, de Paulo Farias D, Neri-Numa IA, Pastore GM (2021) Polyphenols and their applications: an approach in food chemistry and innovation potential. Food Chem 338:127535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127535

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Thommes M, Kaneko K, Neimark AV et al (2015) Physisorption of gases, with special reference to the evaluation of surface area and pore size distribution (IUPAC Technical Report). Pure Appl Chem 87:1051–1069. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2014-1117

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Barrs H (1968) Determination of water deficits in plant tissues. In: Water Deficits and Plant Growth. pp 235–368

  19. Singleton VL, Rossi JAJ (1965) Colorimetry to total phenolics with phosphomolybdic acid reagents. Am J Enol Vinic 16:144–158

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Lichtenthaler HK, Buschmann C (2001) Chlorophylls and carotenoids: measurement and characterization by UV-VIS spectroscopy. In: Wrolstad RE, Acree TE, An H, Decker EA, Penner MH, Reid DS, Schwartz SJ, Shoemaker CF, Sporns P (eds) Current protocols in food analytical chemistry. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY, F4.3.1–F4.3.8

  21. Bouriche S, Alonso-García A, Cárceles-Rodríguez CM et al (2021) An in vivo pharmacokinetic study of metformin microparticles as an oral sustained release formulation in rabbits. BMC Vet Res 17:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-03016-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Pool H, Quintanar D, de Figueroa J et al (2012) Antioxidant effects of quercetin and catechin encapsulated into PLGA nanoparticles. J Nanomater 2012:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/145380

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Dall’Acqua S, Miolo G, Innocenti G, Caffieri S (2012) The photodegradation of quercetin: relation to oxidation. Molecules 17:8898–8907. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules17088898

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Ramešová Å, Sokolová R, Degano I et al (2012) On the stability of the bioactive flavonoids quercetin and luteolin under oxygen-free conditions. Anal Bioanal Chem 402:975–982. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5504-3

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wu TH, Yen FL, Lin LT et al (2008) Preparation, physicochemical characterization, and antioxidant effects of quercetin nanoparticles. Int J Pharm 346:160–168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2007.06.036

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Manisekaran A, Grysan P, Duez B et al (2022) Solvents drive self-assembly mechanisms and inherent properties of Kraft lignin nanoparticles (< 50 nm). J Colloid Interface Sci 626:178–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2022.06.089

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Venkatraman RK, Baiz CR (2020) Ultrafast dynamics at the lipid–water interface: DMSO Modulates H-bond lifetimes. Langmuir 36:6502–6511. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c00870

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. De La Torre C, Casanova I, Acosta G et al (2015) Gated mesoporous silica nanoparticles using a double-role circular peptide for the controlled and target-preferential release of doxorubicin in CXCR4-expresing lymphoma cells. Adv Funct Mater 25:687–695. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201403822

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Kobylińska A (2017) Exogenous quercetin as a proliferation atimulator in Tobacco by-2 cells. J Elem 22:245–258. https://doi.org/10.5601/jelem.2016.21.1.1097

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Caliskan O, Radusiene J, Temizel KE et al (2017) The effects of salt and drought stress on phenolic accumulation in greenhouse-grown Hypericum pruinatum. Ital J Agron 12:271–275. https://doi.org/10.4081/ija.2017.918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Parvin K, Hasanuzzaman M, Borhannuddin Bhuyan MHM et al (2019) Quercetin mediated salt tolerance in tomato through the enhancement of plant antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems. Plants 8:1–20. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8080247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Martinez V, Nieves-Cordones M, Lopez-Delacalle M et al (2018) Tolerance to stress combination in tomato plants: new insights in the protective role of melatonin. Molecules 23:535. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23030535

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Zhao C, Zhang H, Song C et al (2020) Mechanisms of plant responses and adaptation to soil salinity. Innovation 1:100017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2020.100017

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Przybysz A, Gawro A, Gajc-Wolska J (2014) Biological mode of action of a nitrophenolates-based biostimulant: case study. Front Plant Sci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2014.00713

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Kalaji HM, Jajoo A, Oukarroum A et al (2016) Chlorophyll a fluorescence as a tool to monitor physiological status of plants under abiotic stress conditions. Acta Physiol Plant. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-016-2113-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Sharma A, Kumar V, Shahzad B et al (2020) Photosynthetic response of plants under different abiotic stresses: a review. J Plant Growth Regul 39:509–531. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-019-10018-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Ma Y, Balamurugan S, Yuan W et al (2018) Quercetin potentiates the concurrent hyper-accumulation of cellular biomass and lipids in Chlorella vulgaris. Bioresour Technol 269:434–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.07.151

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The measurements of adsorption–desorption properties of obtained microparticles have been done on the apparatus ASAP 2020 Plus (Micrometrics) purchased under the Regional Operational Program for the Lodz Region, RPLD.01.01.00-10-0008/18. Purchase of the Avance Neo 400 NMR spectrometer, used to obtain results included in this publication, was supported by the founds from the EU Regional Operational Program of the Lodz Region, RPLD.01.01.00-10-0008/18.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewicza 112, 90-363, Lodz, Poland

    Bartłomiej Kost, Karolina Cichoń, Irena I. Bąk-Sypień & Marek Brzeziński

  2. Department of Plant Ecophysiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 12/16 Banacha, 90-237, Lodz, Poland

    Agnieszka Kobylińska

Authors
  1. Agnieszka Kobylińska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bartłomiej Kost
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Karolina Cichoń
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Irena I. Bąk-Sypień
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Marek Brzeziński
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

AK: The plant fertilization experiments, conceptualization, methodology, writing, reviewing and editing; KC: Polymer synthesis; BK: Conceptualization, MPs characterization, polymer synthesis, writing; IBK: Material characterization, writing; MB: Conceptualization, methodology, MPs preparation, writing, reviewing and editing.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Bartłomiej Kost or Marek Brzeziński.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that they have no competing interests.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by the author.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 1091.4 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kobylińska, A., Kost, B., Cichoń, K. et al. Stereocomplexed Microparticles as Quercetin Carriers for Improving Plant Growth During Salinity Stress. J Polym Environ 31, 1209–1220 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-022-02678-w

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-022-02678-w

Keywords

Search

Navigation