Exploiting pollen and sporopollenin for the sustainable production of microstructures

Abstract

Pollen grains are microstructures produced in very large quantities in Nature. Their main structural component, spopropollenin, is a very resistant organic polymer presenting numerous hydroxyl functional groups. This abundant and renewable source of hollow grains can be used as a mould, functionalized and filled in order to obtain versatile and inexpensive drug carriers, catalysts and even microscopic electric devices.