journal article·2025-12-01

Polynorbornene Spray Coating to Enhance Plant Health

Luis Palomino, Patrick Opdensteinen, Ivis Sanchez, Ryan O’Hara, Han Sol Kim, Patrick Joseph O. Smith, Ivonne Gonzalez-Gamboa, Xinyi Deng, Nicole F. Steinmetz, Jonathan K. Pokorski

ACS Materials Letters· Volume 7· Issue 12
Publisher page

Abstract

Bacterial infections in plants threaten oxygen production, food security, and economic stability, challenges exacerbated by biotic and abiotic stresses. Innovative approaches are urgently needed to protect plant health. Synthetic macromolecule systems have previously advanced protection in the biomedical field but plant-specific strategies remain underexplored. This study describes an antibacterial polymer synthesized through ring-opening metathesis polymerization using a norbornene quaternary pyridinium monomer and its application to living Nicotiana benthamiana plants via spray coating. The polymer displayed antibacterial efficacy, as evidenced by inhibition of microbial growth in liquid media, against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as inhibition of Agrobacterium infection in planta . Postapplication plant health was confirmed by measuring chlorophyll content and reactive oxygen species levels. Additionally, the coated plants exhibited enhanced drought resistance. These findings underscore the polymer’s efficacy in mitigating bacterial infections while preserving plant health, offering a viable strategy for integrated disease and drought management.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Antimicrobial agents and applications · Polymer-Based Agricultural Enhancements · Plant Disease Management Techniques

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and NanoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Department of Molecular Biology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Center for Engineering in Cancer, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Program in Materials Science and Engineering, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, California 92093, United States

Funding

National Aeronautics and Space Administration · Division of Materials Research

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