Functional Polyelectrolyte Microgels Based on Natural Polysaccharides

Microgels are functional polymer colloids exhibiting extraordinary properties like high chemical functionality, surface activity and stimuli-responsiveness. Microgels are considered as interesting candidates for applications in different areas such as catalysis, coatings and sensors. In particular, the application of microgels in drug delivery, food preservation or plant protection require often biocompatibility and programmed degradation without formation of toxic molecules harmful for the biological systems. This presentation will focus on the development of sustainable synthesis methods and use of bio-based building blocks for the synthesis of functional polyelectrolyte microgels. Selective post-modification methods allow integration of reactive groups into the backbone of polysaccharides like chitosan, pectin or hyaluronic acid. Using polysaccharides as reactive bio-based building blocks we synthesized functional microgels with the size ranging from 200 nanometers to 200 micrometers using water-in-oil emulsion methodologies (mini emulsions and droplet microfluidics) as well as jet reactor processing. Polysaccharide microgels exhibit unique properties like pH-responsiveness, controlled enzymatic degradation and biocompatibility. The application of polysaccharide-based microgels in delivery of antibiotics, [1] fabrication of microporous scaffolds for tissue engineering, [2,3] and development of plant protection formulations will be discussed. [4,5]    

References:

[1] X. Li, N. Wolter, H. Li, X. Shi, A. Pich, J Adv Res, 2023, 43, 87-96.

[2] S. Bulut, S-H. Jung, T. Bissing, F. Schmitt, M. Bund, S. Braun, A. Pich, Small 2023, 2303783.

[3] S. Bulut, D. Günther, M. Bund, C. Haats, T. Bissing, C. Bastard, M. Wessling, L. De Laporte, A. Pich, Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2023, 2302957.

[4] S. Braun, G. Dilarri, L. de Lencastre Novaes, P. Huth, A. Töpel, L. Hussmann, A. Boes, A., M. D. da Rocha, F. Jakob, L. O. Regasini, U. Schwaneberg, H. Ferreira, A. Pich, A. Adv Funct Mater 2023, 2305646.

[5] A. Yayci, T. Sassmann, A. Boes, F. Jakob, A. Töpel, A. Loreth, C. Rauch, A. Pich, U. Schwaneberg, Angew Chem Int Ed. 2024, 136(27), e202319832.