Functionalized Particle Delivery for Agricultural Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for enhancing crop growth and production lack effective solutions for delivering beneficial agricultural components to plants, such as microbes and nutrients, which are prone to degradation and environmental damage.

Innovation Solution

Functionalized particles with a porous core surrounded by a protective sealant layer are used to deliver beneficial agricultural components, including microbes and nutrients, providing protection and stabilization, and can be applied as seed coatings or to plants via various methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beneficial agricultural components (microbes, nutrients) are applied directly to plants or seeds, then crop growth and production can be enhanced, but these components are prone to degradation and environmental damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviability and functionality of beneficial componentsVSAvoiddegradation and environmental damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The beneficial agricultural components are segmented into individual porous particles, each encapsulating protective and functional elements. This segmentation allows each particle to independently protect its contents while maintaining deliverability to plant surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The functional components are nested within a multi-layered particle structure. The porous core contains the beneficial components, which are nested within a protective sealant layer, creating a nested configuration that protects inner elements from external harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 3:

The porous particle structure acts as an intermediary between the beneficial agricultural components and the external environment. This intermediary provides protection while enabling controlled interaction with plants, preventing direct exposure to degradation factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If protective measures are implemented for beneficial components, then viability and functionality are maintained, but delivery complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection and stabilization of beneficial componentsVSAvoidparticle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Porous particles are used as the structural basis, providing both protection and functionality through their porous nature. The porosity enables beneficial components to interact with the environment while the overall structure maintains integrity and protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The particle structure uses composite materials combining porous core material with protective sealant layers. This composite approach provides multiple functions (protection, stabilization, delivery) within a single integrated structure, managing complexity through material composition rather than mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The functionalized particles effectively protect and stabilize beneficial components, maintaining viability and functionality over time, enhancing plant growth and production while preventing environmental damage.

Implementation Method 1

The particle includes a plurality of pores which hold a first beneficial agricultural component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS11370721B2Functional particles for delivery of beneficial agricultural components

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 AGRAUXINE CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a functionalized particle having at its core a porous particle that acts as a structured support element. This porous particle is surrounded by a protective sealant layer encasing the porous particle. The particle includes a plurality of pores holding a first beneficial agricultural component. The functionalized particle can also include a plurality of functionalized molecules embedded in the sealant layer. The functionalized molecules comprise a base material, comprising an active agricultural component or an inactive material, and an active second beneficial agricultural component. The functionalized molecules can all contain the same base material and the same active second beneficial agricultural component or a mixture of different base materials and a mixture of second beneficial agricultural components. The first and second beneficial agricultural components can either be single components or a mixture of components and may be the same or different from each other.