Nanocontainer for Binding and Neutralization of Paraquat

Paraquat, an herbicide used to control annual and perennial weeds, poses risks to human, animal, and environmental health due to its toxicity. This article introduces a nanocontainer designed to bind and neutralize paraquat. The nanocontainer is a nanoscale sphere created through microemulsion polycondensation of resorcinarenes with tyrosine and carboxylate groups and phenylboronic acid. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering indicate that the average size of the nanocontainer is approximately 300 nm. Fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy show that the nanocontainer binds paraquat, resulting in a shift of proton signals towards higher fields and fluorescence quenching, with a binding constant of 28000 M⁻¹. This interaction alters the electrochemical properties, contributing to toxicity. In the cyclic voltammetry analysis of paraquat, adding the nanocontainer after three reduction cycles eliminates the reduction peaks, indicating complete neutralization of paraquat. The article details the nanocontainers synthesis, physicochemical properties, binding efficiency of paraquat, and its impact on electrochemical behavior, as well as potential applications for mitigating paraquats harmful effects.