TITLE:
Glutathione-Responsive Carboxymethyl Chitosan Nanoparticles for Controlled Release of Herbicides
AUTHORS:
Zhiyan Yu, Xin Sun, Haixia Song, Wenqian Wang, Zhao Ye, Liyan Shi, Kaikai Ding
KEYWORDS:
Glutathione-Responsive, Nanoparticles, Controlled Release, Herbicides, Diuron
JOURNAL NAME:
Materials Sciences and Applications,
Vol.6 No.6,
June
29,
2015
ABSTRACT: Glutathione-responsive carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles cross-linked with disulfide bonds
were developed for controlled release of herbicides. The nanoparticles were synthesized by selfassembly
of amphiphilic carboxymethyl chitosan derivative (CMCS-MUA) in aqueous solution and
subsequently producing disulfide cross-linking bonds by ultrasonic treatment. TEM showed that
the nanoparticles had a spherical core-shell configuration with a size of about 250 nm. Assessment
of stability of the nanoparticles (considering mean diameter, polydispersity, and Zeta potential)
was conducted over a period of three months, and the nanoparticles were found to be stable in
solution. Herbicide-loaded nanoparticles were prepared using diuron as a model herbicide. In vitro
release study revealed that diuron can be released from nanoparticles in a controlled manner
depended on the glutathione concentration. Herbicidal activity assays performed with preemergence
treatment of target species (Echinochloa crusgalli) showed the effectiveness of diuron-
loaded nanoparticles. Assays with nontarget species (Zea mays) showed that the diuronloaded
nanoparticles did not affect plant growth. The results indicate that the glutathioneresponsive
nanoparticles prepared in this work will be a promising candidate for controlled release
of herbicides in agriculture.