METHODS TO PRODUCE POLYMER NANOPARTICLES AND FORMULATIONS OF ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

• US 20120065071A1
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vive Crop Protection Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vive Nano, Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Fugang, Pham, Hung, Anderson, Darren J.
• Application Number:
  US13/299,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065071A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 504/361
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/10 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/28 Microcapsules or nanocapsules
• 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: A01N 39/04 Aryloxy-acetic acids; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/40 six-membered rings
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/50 1,3-Diazoles; Hydrogenated 1,3-diazoles
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/54 1,3-Diazines; Hydrogenated 1,3-diazines
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/68 with two or three nitrogen atoms directly attached to ring carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 43/70 Diamino—1,3,5—triazines with only one oxygen, sulfur or halogen atom or only one cyano, thiocyano (—SCN), cyanato (—OCN) or azido (—N3) group directly attached to a ring carbon atom
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/36 containing the group >N—CO—N< directly attached to at least one heterocyclic ring; Thio analogues thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 51/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic compounds having the sequences of atoms O—N—S, X—O—S, N—N—S, O—N—N or O-halogen, regardless of the number of bonds each atom has and with no atom of these sequences forming part of a heterocyclic ring
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/20 containing acyclic or cycloaliphatic radicals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2333/02 Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2339/02 Homopolymers or copolymers of vinylamine
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/14 by precipitation from solutions C08J3/122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/24 Crosslinking, e.g. vulcanising, of macromolecules mechanical aspects B29C35/00; crosslinking agents C08K
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/28 Treatment by wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 2201/011 Nanostructured additives
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/0058 Biocides; macromolecular substances as carriers for biocide material A01N25/10
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 25/18 : Homopolymers or copolymers of aromatic monomers containing elements other than carbon and hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 33/02 : Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 39/02 : Homopolymers or copolymers of vinylamine
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/08 : Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 105/08 : Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 : Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention provides a composition including a polymer nanoparticle and at least one agricultural active compound incorporated with the nanoparticle, wherein the nanoparticle are less than 100 nm in diameter, and the polymer includes a polyelectrolyte.

Claims

1. A method comprising steps of

(a) dissolving a polyelectrolyte into an first solvent under solution conditions that render it charged,

(b) adding a species that is oppositely charged under these conditions to cause the polyelectrolyte to collapse upon the oppositely charged species,

(c) crosslinking the collapsed polyelectrolyte,

(d) removing the oppositely charged species from the solution;

and

(e) associating an active ingredient with the collapsed and cross-linked polyelectrolyte.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the active ingredient is an organic, neutral agricultural active compound.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first solvent comprises water.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the active ingredient is non-ionic.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the polyelectrolyte is water-soluble and has a molecular weight of at least about 100,000 Dalton.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of an acaracide, an insecticide, a fungicide, a bactericide, a herbicide, an antibiotic, an antimicrobial, a nemacide, a rodenticide, an entomopathogen, a pheromone, a chemosterilant, a virus, an attractant, a plant growth regulator, an insect growth regulator, a repellent, a plant nutrient, a phagostimulant, a germicide, and combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of strobilurins, pyrethroids, triazoles and sulfonamides.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing step comprises dialysis or diafiltration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing step comprises dissolving the oppositely charged species.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of drying the collapsed and cross-linked polyelectrolyte before the associating step.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the collapsed and cross-linked polyelectrolyte is less than 100 nm in size.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the collapsed and cross-linked polyelectrolyte is less than 20 nm in size.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the collapsed and cross-linked polyelectrolyte comprises multiple polyelectrolyte molecules.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyelectrolyte is a copolymer.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the polyelectrolyte is a random copolymer.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the associating step comprises:

(a) dissolving the dried, collapsed and cross-linked polyelectrolyte and active ingredient in a solvent; and

(b) removing at least a portion of the solvent.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the solvent comprises an organic solvent.

18. A method comprising steps of:

(a) dissolving a polyelectrolyte into a first solvent under solution conditions that render it charged,

(b) adding a species that is oppositely charged under these conditions to cause the polyelectrolyte to collapse upon the oppositely charged species,

(c) crosslinking the collapsed polyelectrolyte,

(d) removing the oppositely charged species from the solution,

(e) drying the resulting solution to produce a composition,

(f) dissolving the composition and an active ingredient in a second solvent; and

(g) removing at least a portion of the second solvent.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second solvent comprises an organic solvent.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the active ingredient is an organic, neutral agricultural active compound.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the active ingredient is non-ionic.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the polyelectrolyte is water-soluble and has a molecular weight of at least about 100,000 Dalton.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of an acaracide, an insecticide, a fungicide, a bactericide, a herbicide, an antibiotic, an antimicrobial, a nemacide, a rodenticide, an entomopathogen, a pheromone, a chemosterilant, a virus, an attractant, a plant growth regulator, an insect growth regulator, a repellent, a plant nutrient, a phagostimulant, a germicide, and combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of strobilurins, pyrethroids, triazoles and sulfonamides.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the collapsed and cross-linked polyelectrolyte is less than 100 nm in size.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the collapsed and cross-linked polyelectrolyte is less than 20 nm in size.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the collapsed and cross-linked polyelectrolyte comprises multiple polyelectrolyte molecules.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the polyelectrolyte is a copolymer.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein the polyelectrolyte is a random copolymer.

30. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step of drying the remaining solution after removal of the first solvent.