A pH-responsive metal-organic framework for the anti-photolysis and controlled release of abscisic acid to improve the drought resistance of cotton

Metal-organic frameworks that respond to environmental stimuli have attracted considerable attention as intelligent pesticide delivery systems in agriculture. Exogenous application of plant growth regulator abscisic acid can effectively enhance crop drought resistance. However, the photo-instability of abscisic acid and the limited efficacy of conventional dosage forms limit its application in the field. To cope with this challenge, a pH-responsive composite ABA@MIL-100(Fe) was prepared based on the metal-organic framework MIL-100(Fe) to achieve precise abscisic acid release by harnessing pH fluctuations that occur as a physiological response in the crop's microenvironment during drought stress. The ABA@MIL-100(Fe) composite exhibited a hydrated particle size of 162.3 nm and an abscisic acid loading rate of 22.2 %. Meanwhile, ABA@MIL-100(Fe) showed excellent pH-responsive release characteristics. At pH 7.2, the release of abscisic acid from ABA@MIL-100(Fe) reached 70.5 % after 3 h, which was higher than that after 25 h under acidic conditions. Under UV irradiation for 9 h, free abscisic acid experienced considerable degradation with a rate as high as 44.9 %, whereas only 12.5 % degradation was observed for encapsulated abscisic acid within ABA@MIL-100(Fe). In bioassay trials, both foliar smearing and spraying of ABA@MIL-100(Fe) notably improved drought tolerance in cotton seedlings. The promoting effect of MIL-100(Fe) was also observed at the germination stage of cotton seeds. These results suggest that ABA@MIL-100(Fe) can be used as an intelligent delivery system of photosensitive pesticides to achieve controlled release and improved photolysis resistance under drought conditions, and can be applied for effective drought stress mitigation. • A pH-responsive nanohybrid ABA@MIL-100(Fe) was prepared by encapsulating ABA within an Iron-based metal–organic framework. • 22.2 % ABA was loaded in the ABA@MIL-100(Fe), and its release can be triggered by increased apoplast pH during drought. • The photolysis resistance of ABA in ABA@MIL-100(Fe) was enhanced, leading to improved drought resistance in cotton plants. • The MIL-100(Fe) component promoted cotton seed germination and showed no toxicity to cotton growth.