15^th Asia-Pacific Biotechnology Congress

In recent years interest in bio-based polymers has accelerated because of its renewable and biodegradable properties. However, the

first generation bio-based polymers were mostly derived from agricultural feedstocks which contradict directly with human food

demand. There is limited research in isolating bio-based polymers from crop wastes and their utilization in plant system. Our ultimate

goal is to isolate plant polymer, xylan from wheat bran. After characterization of the polymer using spectroscopic and chromatographic

techniques, chemical functionalization of xylan hydroxyl groups was carried out to form a type of nanoparticles within the size range

of 50-100 nanometer (nm). These particles function as extremely small nanocapsules and will be used to encapsulate micronutrients

for delivering into plant cells. In this preliminary work, to understand the uptake and translocation of bio-based polymer in plant

system, we prepared a Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (NP) tagged with Alexa Fluor 647 dye and applied to germinating

seeds of common bean. Analyzing the polymers treated and non-treated tissue of germinated seeds using confocal microscopy, we

observed differential uptake and translocation of Alexa Fluor 647 dye bound polymer in common bean tissues