Electrospun Eco-Friendly Materials Based on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and TiO2 with Antifungal Activity Prospective for Esca Treatment

Abstract

Esca is a type of grapevine trunk disease that severely affects vine yield and longevity. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (P. chlamydospora) is one of the main fungi associated with esca. The aim of the present study was to obtain eco-friendly materials with potential antifungal activity against P. chlamydospora based on biodegradable and biocompatible poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), nanosized TiO2-anatase (nanoTiO2), and chitosan oligomers (COS) by conjunction of electrospinning and electrospraying. One-pot electrospinning of a suspension of nanosized TiO2 nanoparticles in PHB solution resulted in materials in which TiO2 was incorporated within the fibers (design type “in”). Simultaneous electrospinning of PHB solution and electrospraying of the dispersion of nanosized TiO2 in COS solution enabled the preparation of materials consisting of PHB fibers on which TiO2 was deposited on the fibers’ surface (design type “on”). Several methods including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) and water contact angle were utilized to characterize the obtained materials. The incorporation of nanoTiO2 in the PHB fibers, as well as nanoTiO2 deposition onto the surface of the PHB fibers resulted in increased roughness and hydrophobicity of the obtained composite fibrous materials. Moreover, TiO2-on-PHB fibrous material exhibited complete inhibition of fungal growth of P. chlamydospora. Therefore, the obtained eco-friendly fibrous materials based on PHB and nanoTiO2 are promising candidates for protection against esca in agriculture.

Electrospun Poly(methyl methacrylate)/TiO2 Composites for Photocatalytic Water Treatment

“…As expected, the addition of TiO 2 led to the increase in contact angles to 116.7 • ± 3.75 • and 122.6 • ± 4.24 • for PMMA/5TiO 2 and PMMA/10TiO 2 , respectively. These results were in accordance with our previous findings and with the literature data [25,26]. Therefore, before UV irradiation the contact angles were in the hydrophobic region (above 90 • ), which is due to the hydrophobic surface of the PMMA fibers.…”

Electrospun Polymer-Fungicide Nanocomposites for Grapevine Protection

“…The authors reported, however, that more effective polymers and antifungal agents should be used. Some authors have also proposed an original approach and have successfully obtained fibrous materials from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), nanosized TiO 2 -anatase, and chitosan oligomers (COS) with antifungal activity for plant protection via a combination of electrospinning and electrospraying [16]. The obtained eco-friendly materials possess high roughness, hydrophobicity, and antifungal activity against P. chlamydospora.…”

Electrospun Polymer Materials with Fungicidal Activity: A Review

“…Fibrous materials based on PHB, nanosized TiO 2 —anatase and chitosan oligomers—have also been successfully obtained by simultaneous electrospinning and electrospraying [ 108 ]. One-pot electrospinning of a dispersion of nanosized TiO 2 nanoparticles in PHB solution resulted in obtaining of materials with design type “in”, in which TiO 2 was incorporated in the fibers.…”