Our nanovehicles are obteined from the synthesis of chitosan, a natural polymer that we produce from shrimp waste. These are discarded on a large scale on the Patagonian coast, generating a high impact of enviromental pollution and coastal biodiversity, including whales.
Advances in tissue engineering require the development of new biomaterials with adequate properties of cell attachment and growth. The properties of biomaterials can be improved by incorporation of bioactive molecules to enhance in vitro and/or in vivo functions.
Active molecules are useful to improve different aspects related with their plants production and yield. Immobilization, encapsulation and vehiculization of active principles, as amino-acids, biostimulants and nutrients, among others, have been widely used in agriculture but also in other industries in order to protect, release and functionalize the desired active ingredient with more effective biological action.
The aim of this study was to develop alginate-based hydrogels for application in horticultural field as bio-based substrate additives to control moisture. For this purpose, a 2-level factorial design was performed to select the appropriate levels of significant variables.