Engineering of PVA/PVP Hydrogels for Agricultural Applications

Overview

Journal Gels

Date 2023 Nov 24

PMID 37998985

Authors

Eyal Malka

Shlomo Margel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Hydrogels have gained significant popularity in agricultural applications in terms of minimizing waste and mitigating the negative environmental impact of agrochemicals. This review specifically examines the utilization of environmentally friendly, shapable hydrogels composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in various casings for crop protection against different pests, fertilizing, and watering. To activate their effectiveness, PVA/PVP hydrogels were loaded with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic environmentally friendly pesticides, namely hydrogen peroxide (HP), the essential oil thymol, and urea as a fertilizer, either separately or in combination. This review covers various physical and chemical approaches used for loading, shaping, and controlling the release profiles of pesticides and fertilizers. Additionally, it explores the evaluation of the chemical composition, structure, classification, rheology, and morphology of the hydrogels as well as their impact on the thermal stability of the encapsulated pesticides and fertilizer, followed by biological tests. These hydrogels significantly contribute to the stabilization and controlled release of essential nutrients and biocides for plants, while maintaining excellent biocidal and fertilizing properties as well as sustainability characteristics. By shedding light on the latest insights into the concepts, applications, and results of these hydrogels, this review demonstrates their immense potential for widespread future use in agriculture.

Citing Articles

Evaluation of Physicochemical Properties of Polymeric Systems for Potential Applications in Cartilage Tissue Engineering.

Wanat D, Garbowska C, Wrzesinska W, Grzywacz O, Sala K, Zapotoczny K Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 26(5).

PMID: 40076680 PMC: 11900945. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26052057.

Polydiacetylene (PDA) Embedded Polymer-Based Network Structure for Biosensor Applications.

Jang H, Jeon J, Shin M, Kang G, Ryu H, Kim S Gels. 2025; 11(1).

PMID: 39852037 PMC: 11764618. DOI: 10.3390/gels11010066.

Encapsulation of Hydrogen Peroxide in PVA/PVP Hydrogels for Medical Applications.

Mounayer N, Shoshani S, Afrimzon E, Iline-Vul T, Topaz M, Banin E Gels. 2025; 11(1).

PMID: 39852002 PMC: 11765405. DOI: 10.3390/gels11010031.

Hydrogel promotes bone regeneration through various mechanisms: a review.

Zheng Y, Ke Z, Hu G, Tong S Biomed Tech (Berl). 2024; .

PMID: 39571066 DOI: 10.1515/bmt-2024-0391.

Hydrogel-Forming Microneedles and Applications in Interstitial Fluid Diagnostic Devices.

Aroche A, Nissan H, Daniele M Adv Healthc Mater. 2024; 14(1):e2401782.

PMID: 39558769 PMC: 11694095. DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202401782.

References

Tay J, Choe D, Mulchandani A, Rust M . Hydrogels: From Controlled Release to a New Bait Delivery for Insect Pest Management. J Econ Entomol. 2020; 113(5):2061-2068. PMC: 7566487. DOI: 10.1093/jee/toaa183. View

Rizwan M, Gilani S, Durani A, Naseem S . Materials diversity of hydrogel: Synthesis, polymerization process and soil conditioning properties in agricultural field. J Adv Res. 2021; 33:15-40. PMC: 8464009. DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.03.007. View

Luo Y, Hong Y, Shen L, Wu F, Lin X . Multifunctional Role of Polyvinylpyrrolidone in Pharmaceutical Formulations. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2021; 22(1):34. DOI: 10.1208/s12249-020-01909-4. View

Jo H, Park K, Min S, Na J, Park K, Han J . Development of an anti-insect sachet using a polyvinyl alcohol-cinnamon oil polymer strip against Plodia interpunctella. J Food Sci. 2013; 78(11):E1713-20. DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.12268. View

Park J, Lee J, Kim Y, Kang M, Suh H, Lee J . A high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection-based quantitative analytical method for polyvinyl alcohol in food supplements with pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based verification. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2022; 31(7):797-805. PMC: 9203636. DOI: 10.1007/s10068-022-01102-2. View

Leone G, Consumi M, Greco G, Bonechi C, Lamponi S, Rossi C . A PVA/PVP hydrogel for human lens substitution: Synthesis, rheological characterization, and in vitro biocompatibility. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2011; 97(2):278-88. DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.31813. View

Marcelo G, Galhano J, Duarte M, Kurutos A, Capelo-Martinez J, Lodeiro C . Functional Cyanine-Based PVA:PVP Polymers as Antimicrobial Tools toward Food and Health-Care Bacterial Infections. Macromol Biosci. 2022; 22(12):e2200244. DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200244. View

Salawi A . Pharmaceutical Coating and Its Different Approaches, a Review. Polymers (Basel). 2022; 14(16). PMC: 9415771. DOI: 10.3390/polym14163318. View

Teodorescu M, Bercea M, Morariu S . Biomaterials of PVA and PVP in medical and pharmaceutical applications: Perspectives and challenges. Biotechnol Adv. 2018; 37(1):109-131. DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2018.11.008. View

10.

Shi Y, Xiong D, Liu Y, Wang N, Zhao X . Swelling, mechanical and friction properties of PVA/PVP hydrogels after swelling in osmotic pressure solution. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2016; 65:172-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2016.04.042. View

11.

Jeong J, Park J, Kim Y, Yang S, Jeong S, Lee J . Gamma Ray-Induced Polymerization and Cross-Linking for Optimization of PPy/PVP Hydrogel as Biomaterial. Polymers (Basel). 2020; 12(1). PMC: 7023038. DOI: 10.3390/polym12010111. View

12.

Nagy K, Duca R, Lovas S, Creta M, Scheepers P, Godderis L . Systematic review of comparative studies assessing the toxicity of pesticide active ingredients and their product formulations. Environ Res. 2019; 181:108926. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108926. View

13.

Sasson E, Agazani O, Malka E, Reches M, Margel S . Engineered Cross-Linked Silane with Urea Polymer Thin Durable Coatings onto Polymeric Films for Controlled Antiviral Release of Activated Chlorine and Essential Oils. J Funct Biomater. 2023; 14(5). PMC: 10218995. DOI: 10.3390/jfb14050270. View

14.

Wu H, Yue L, Jiang S, Lu Y, Wu Y, Wan Z . Biodegradation of polyvinyl alcohol by different dominant degrading bacterial strains in a baffled anaerobic bioreactor. Water Sci Technol. 2019; 79(10):2005-2012. DOI: 10.2166/wst.2019.202. View

15.

Younes M, Aquilina G, Castle L, Engel K, Fowler P, Furst P . Re-evaluation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (E 1201) and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (E 1202) as food additives and extension of use of polyvinylpyrrolidone (E 1201). EFSA J. 2020; 18(8):e06215. PMC: 7416752. DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.6215. View

16.

Sanchez-Cid P, Jimenez-Rosado M, Romero A, Perez-Puyana V . Novel Trends in Hydrogel Development for Biomedical Applications: A Review. Polymers (Basel). 2022; 14(15). PMC: 9370620. DOI: 10.3390/polym14153023. View

17.

Shah J, Vendl T, Aulicky R, Frankova M, Stejskal V . Gel Carriers for Plant Extracts and Synthetic Pesticides in Rodent and Arthropod Pest Control: An Overview. Gels. 2022; 8(8). PMC: 9407565. DOI: 10.3390/gels8080522. View

18.

Lazarevic J, Jevremovic S, Kostic I, Vuleta A, Manitasevic Jovanovic S, Kostic M . Assessment of Sex-Specific Toxicity and Physiological Responses to Thymol in a Common Bean Pest Say. Front Physiol. 2022; 13:842314. PMC: 8892178. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.842314. View

19.

Emerson A, McCall A, Brady S, Slaby E, Weaver J . Hydrogel Injection Molding to Generate Complex Cell Encapsulation Geometries. ACS Biomater Sci Eng. 2022; 8(9):4002-4013. DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00640. View

20.

Liu F, Li W, Liu H, Yuan T, Yang Y, Zhou W . Preparation of 3D Printed Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol Double Network Hydrogel Scaffolds. Macromol Biosci. 2021; 21(4):e2000398. DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202000398. View