BIODEGRADABLE CHEMICAL DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20110275520A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cornell University
• Original Assignee: Cornell University
• Inventors: Taylor, Alan G., Hoffmann, Michael P., Gardner, Jeffrey, Xiang, Chunhui, Frey, Margaret W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,861,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 504/360
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/10 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/34 Shaped forms, e.g. sheets, not provided for in any other sub-group of this main group
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/37 layered or coated with a polymer
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/21 the polymer being premixed with a liquid phase
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 1/02 Cellulose; Modified cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 101/16 the macromolecular compounds being biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/16 Fibres; Fibrils
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2205/18 Spheres
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/26 Natural polymers, natural resins or derivatives thereof according to C08L1/00 - C08L5/00, C08L89/00, C08L93/00, C08L97/00 or C08L99/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 3/02 Starch; Degradation products thereof, e.g. dextrin
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/02 Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy compounds C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 89/00 Compositions of proteins; Compositions of derivatives thereof foodstuff preparations A23J3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 89/04 Products derived from waste materials, e.g. horn, hoof or hair
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 97/005 Lignin
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/625 derived from hydroxy-carboxylic acids, e.g. lactones
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/82 from polyester amides or polyether amides
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/88 from mixtures of polycondensation products as major constituent with other polymers or low-molecular-weight compounds

Abstract

Polymeric materials are provided that are produced from a blend of hydrophilic and hydrophobic biodegradable polymers. The polymeric materials can form fibers, nonwoven fabrics, films, coatings, pellets, capsules, etc. A compound can be incorporated in the polymeric materials. The delivery of the compound can be controlled by diffusion of the compound from the polymeric material and during biodegradation of the polymeric material. The release rate is controlled by varying the composition of the polymeric material to control diffusion rates of the compound and/or biodegradation rate of the polymeric material. This technology provides methods for delivering and controlling release rates of pesticides and related compounds in agricultural and non-agricultural settings. When adhered to plants or plant parts, the polymeric materials can provide protection from insect and disease pests. In pellet or capsule form, pesticides can be delivered into seed furrows along with crop seeds, providing similar protection.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. The polymeric material of claim 19 wherein the content loading of the incorporated second polymeric material is in the range of 0.0001%-50% of the weight of the matrix material.

3. The polymeric material of claim 19 wherein the incorporated second polymeric material is covalently associated with or mechanically entrapped within the matrix material.

5. The polymeric material of claim 19 that is biodegradable.

9. The polymeric material of claim 19 wherein the hydrophobic polymeric matrix material is selected from the group consisting of poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly a hydroxyl acid, poly glycolic acid (PGA), poly(lactic acid) (PLA, PLLA, PDLA, or poly lactide), poly ε

caprolactone (PCL), polybutylene succinate (PBSU), polyethylene succinate (PESU), polyesteramides (PEA) and polyhydroxybutylvalerate (PHBV) and wherein the hydrophilic polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, starch, lignin, keratin, fibroin, polysaccharides, proteins, polyvinylalcohol (PVOH), and polyvinylacetate (PVA).

11. The polymeric material of claim 19 wherein the incorporated second polymeric material has the form of nanofibrils, nanocrystals, nanoparticles, droplets or phase-separated domains within the polymeric matrix material.

17. The polymeric material of claim 19 having a hydrolytic degradation rate that increases with increased proportion of the hydrophilic polymeric material.

18. The polymeric material of claim 17 wherein the degradation is enzymatic, microbial or photolytic.

19. A polymeric material of claim 1 comprising:

a polymeric matrix material;

a second polymeric material incorporated in the polymeric matrix material; and

the compound of interest incorporated in the polymeric matrix material;

wherein;

the polymeric matrix material is a hydrophobic polymeric material and the incorporated second polymeric material is a hydrophilic polymeric material, or

the polymeric matrix material is a hydrophilic polymeric material and the incorporated second polymeric material is a hydrophobic polymeric material.

20. The polymeric material of claim 19 wherein release rate is controlled by varying the composition of hydrophilic polymeric material to hydrophobic polymeric material.

21. The polymeric material of claim 19 wherein the compound of interest is selected from the group consisting of fertilizer, nutrient, soil amendment, mineral, plant growth regulator, pheromone, kairomone, allomone, repellent and pesticide.

22. The polymeric material of claim 21 wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of acaricide, algicide, avicide, bactericide, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, mating disrupter, molluscicide, nematicide, rodenticide and virucide.

23. The polymeric material of claim 19 that is in the form of a fiber, filament, nonwoven fabric, film, coating, pellet, capsule, plastic shape, powder, granule, gel or droplet.

27. A method for protecting a plant or a portion thereof from infestation by a pest or disease species comprising the step of adhering the polymeric material of claim 19 to the plant or portion thereof or applying the polymeric material of claim 19 directly onto or into a substrate in which the plant or portion thereof is disposed, wherein the polymeric material comprises a compound of interest selected from the group consisting of pheromone, allomone, kairomone, repellent and pesticide.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the pesticide is selected from the group consisting of acaricide, algicide, avicide, bactericide, fungicide, insecticide, mating disrupter, molluscicide, nematicide, rodenticide and virucide.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the portion of the plant is selected from the group consisting of root, seed, bulb, corm, rhizome, tuber, leaf, flower, fruit, reproductive structures, bud, stem, bark and foliage.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the protection has the purpose of remediating existing infestation of the plant or a portion thereof.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the portion of the plant is a seed.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein the substrate is a substrate for growing a plant.

44. A method for regulating plant growth comprising the step of applying the polymeric material of claim 19 onto the plant or a portion thereof or the step of applying the polymeric material of claim 19 directly onto or into a substrate in which the plant or a portion thereof is disposed, wherein the polymeric material comprises a compound of interest that is a plant growth regulator.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the portion of the plant is selected from the group consisting of root, seed, bulb, corm, rhizome, tuber, leaf, flower, fruit, reproductive structures, bud, stem, bark and foliage.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the polymeric material is applied directly to the surface of the plant or portion thereof.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the regulating of plant growth is promoting rate of growth, inhibiting rate of growth, inhibiting maturation, enhancing competition against weeds, destroying a plant or stimulating germination.

49. The method of claim 45 wherein the portion of the plant is a seed.

4. (canceled)

6-8. -8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

12-16. -16. (canceled)

24-26. -26. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

32-33. -33. (canceled)

36-43. -43. (canceled)

48. (canceled)