Figure - available from: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
This content is subject to copyright. Terms and conditions apply.
Stability strategies for polymer-based nanopesticides. (a) Physicochemical stabilization: (1) repulsion of particles with high electric charge density, (2) repulsion of particles with low electric charge density, (3) repulsion of particles by steric mechanisms, and (4) repulsion of particles with low electric charge density and steric mechanism. (b) Physical stabilization: (1) increase of the medium’s viscosity as a strategy to reduce the sedimentation rate and (2) lyophilization of the product.
Source publication
Pesticides have been used in agricultural activity for decades because they represent the first defense against pathogens, harmful insects, and parasitic weeds. Conventional pesticides are commonly employed at high dosages to prevent their loss and degradation, guaranteeing effectiveness; however, this results in a large waste of resources and sign...
Similar publications
Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) has emerged as the top-selling herbicide worldwide because of its versatility in controlling annual and perennial weeds and the extensive use of glyphosate-resistant crops. Concerns related to the widespread use of glyphosate and its ubiquitous presence in the environment has led to a large number of studies...
Citations
... Considering its potential to increase crop yield and sustainability, nanogels have attracted a lot of interest in the agricultural sector (Arora et al., 2022). Nanogels' potential to act as controlled-release delivery systems for nutrients, fertilisers, and insecticides is one of its primary benefits (Del Prado-Audelo et al., 2022). Nanogels can encapsulate and protect active substances thanks to their porous structure, preventing the ingredients from being prematurely released or degraded (Shelar et al., 2023). ...
... Nanogels can encapsulate and protect active substances thanks to their porous structure, preventing the ingredients from being prematurely released or degraded (Shelar et al., 2023). As a result of this controlled-release mechanism, bioactive substances are released gradually and consistently, giving plants a steady and effective dose of nutrients or pesticides (Del Prado-Audelo et al., 2022). Nanogels assist in reducing waste, and environmental pollution, and increase crop health and production by facilitating the efficient and targeted administration of agrochemicals. ...
There is a pressing need to improve agricultural methods and apply cutting-edge technologies to boost food production and ensure food security in Africa. For decades, farmers have relied on commercially available pesticides that are both environmentally harmful and expensive. On the other hand, nanotechnology is an emerging technology with numerous promising uses, among which is the prevention and treatment of plant diseases. Its application has allowed for more precise and efficient pesticide distribution to plants but there have been increasing concerns about toxicity and general acceptance. This review article examines the infusion of Indigenous agricultural knowledge into nanotechnology for pesticide production in Africa. This study employs a systematic review to identify relevant published articles from electronic databases like PubMed, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and African Journals Online (AJOL) after which a total of 46 articles were selected from 373 articles which were identified at the initial stage. The study shows that the African agricultural system, governed by Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge, which is the result of human efforts to optimise crop yields via careful planning, experimentation, and the transmission of tried-and-true techniques from generation to generation has proven to be an economical, eco-friendly, and healthful strategy for addressing issues like weed control and insect and disease prevention in agriculture. The findings of this review suggest that incorporating Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge with nanotechnology via green methods can solve these problems.
... Emamectin benzoate is synthesised from avermectin and has demonstrated high efficacy against a wide range of pests, especially lepidopteran larvae, while exhibiting low toxicity to non-target organisms [6][7][8]. Their presentation in the form of WD granules, although offering alternatives to organic solvents, has limitations in thermodynamic stability as well as high production costs. In addition, the susceptibility of emamectin benzoate to degradation by light reduces its efficacy [3,9]. ...
In this study, an aqueous suspoemulsion (SE) of emamectin benzoate, an effective insecticide, was developed using a mixture of non-ionic and anionic surfactants and soy lecithin as an emulsifying and stabilising agent of natural origin, avoiding the use of toxic organic solvents. The stability of this formulation was evaluated by CIPAC MT-180 methods, obtaining values of 0.03 mL cream, 0.01 mL free oil and no observable sediment at 0.5 h after dispersion. At 24.5 h after dispersion, values of 0.04 mL cream, 0.01 mL free oil and no observable sediment were obtained, ensuring the stability of the dispersion of SE in water. The concentrated SE had a density of 0.95 g/mL at 25 °C, pH = 7.29 at 25 °C and a dynamic viscosity of 170 cP at 25 °C. The results obtained offer new opportunities for the design of plant protection products with lower environmental impact by incorporating biodegradable additives, favouring the development of a more responsible and efficient agriculture, in line with the principles of sustainability.
... The overall results indicated that higher mortality rates in mosquito larvae require lower concentrations when using nanoscale polymeric capsules of Moringa plant extract compared to using the conventional extract. The reason may be the nanoscale size of the polymeric capsules and their rapid ability to penetrate and reach the sensitive site in the insect body compared to the conventional extract, which may degrade and decompose more quickly, affecting its toxicity level (Del Prado-Audelo et al., 2022;Perlatti et al., 2013). In summary of the results, polymeric nano capsules of Moringa extract outperformed the conventional extract in their effect on mosquito larvae, which is evident from the lower LC 50 value and other toxicity values by about five times compared to toxicity values when treated with the conventional extract. ...
The study aimed to prepare a nanocapsules formulation from the acetonic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves, using polymeric capsules, and test its toxicity against the third instar larvae of Culex pipiens mosquitoes. The leaf extract was prepared using acetone as a solvent, and the nano polymeric capsules were prepared using the synthetic polymer polyethylene glycol 4000. The results showed the successful preparation of nano polymeric capsules from the leaf extract, with an average particle size of 259.2 nm, and a nanocapsule diameter of 263.83 nm, as determined by DLS and SEM analysis, respectively. The toxicity results indicated that the nano polymeric capsules of the leaf extract exhibited higher mortality rates, reaching 97.6% at a concentration of 1333 ppm, with a median lethal concentration (LC50) of 421.56 ppm. In comparison, the traditional leaf extract showed higher mortality rates of 100% at a concentration of 6125 ppm at 72 h of treatment, with a median lethal concentration (LC50) of 1719.67 ppm. These results demonstrate that the nano polymeric capsules of the leaf extract are more efficient than the traditional extract, even at lower concentrations, and could serve as an environmentally-friendly and effective means of mosquito control.
... Nevertheless, their steadfast nature poses challenges, including resistance to degradation in agricultural settings, potentially escalating environmental pollution if the nanomaterials themselves are deleterious. The strong adhesion characteristic, while advantageous for non-edible plant parts like leaves, skins, and fruits, raises health concerns when applied to edible produce, necessitating careful design considerations to mitigate these risks [35][36][37][38][39][40][41]. ...
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is one of the fungi that cause plant diseases. It damages plants by secreting large amounts of oxalic acid and cell wall-degrading enzymes. To meet this challenge, we designed a new pH/enzyme dual-responsive nanopesticide Pro@ZnO@Pectin (PZP). This nanopesticide uses zinc oxide (ZnO) as a carrier of prochloraz (Pro) and is encapsulated with pectin. When encountering oxalic acid released by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the acidic environment promotes the decomposition of ZnO; at the same time, the pectinase produced by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum can also decompose the outer pectin layer of PZP, thereby promoting the effective release of the active ingredient. Experimental data showed that PZP was able to achieve an efficient release rate of 57.25% and 68.46% when pectinase was added or under acidic conditions, respectively. In addition, in vitro tests showed that the antifungal effect of PZP was comparable to that of the commercial Pro (Pro SC) on the market, and its efficacy was 1.40 times and 1.32 times that of the Pro original drug (Pro TC), respectively. Crucially, the application of PZP significantly alleviated the detrimental impacts of Pro on wheat development. Soil wetting experiments have proved that PZP primarily remained in the soil, thereby decreasing its likelihood of contaminating water sources and reducing potential risks to non-target organisms. Moreover, PZP improved the foliar wettability of Pro, lowering the contact angle to 75.06°. Residue analyses indicated that PZP did not elevate prochloraz residue levels in tomato fruits compared to conventional applications, indicating that the nanopesticide formulation does not lead to excessive pesticide buildup. In summary, the nanopesticide PZP shows great promise for effectively managing Sclerotinia sclerotiorum while minimizing environmental impact.
... SEM is valid morphology characterization tool because it allows adequate resolution in the nanometric size range 9 . SEM was used to characterize CS-based nanoparticles in previous reports 10,14 . ...
Herbicides are widely used to control weeds in agriculture filed, however, the excessive use of the conventional formulation causes harmful side effects on the environment. To relieve this problem, natural polymer nanoparticles as herbicide carrier were rapidly developed and applied in recent years. In the present study, chitosan/tripolyphosphate (CS/TPP) nanoparticles were synthesized as nanocarrier to load herbicide 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetate sodium salt (MCPA-Na). The encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 51.32% was obtained through measuring indirectly by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The free and MCPA-Na-loaded CS/TPP nanoparticles were characterized by using dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The encapsulation of MCPA-Na in CS/TPP nanoparticles resulted in the change of MCPA-Na release profile in different pH media and displayed effective sustained-release under neutral condition. The evaluation of herbicidal activity against Bidens pilosa L. showed that the efficacy enhancement of MCPA-Na was realized after encapsulation in CS/TPP nanoparticles. The proposed herbicide nanoformulation presented a good potential as a sustainable alternative for weed control in agriculture.
... Understanding the characteristics of LNP and their interaction with encapsulated pesticides is essential, influencing release kinetics, degradation rates, and overall formulation stability. 166,167 Challenges in Size Consistency: Difficulty achieving consistent particle sizes due to precipitation variations. ...
... In addition, combining biocompatible additives not only reinforces the stability but also guarantees compatibility within the agricultural system while prioritizing environmental safety. 167 Providing appropriate storage conditions, including suitable temperature, humidity control, and shielding from direct light exposure, significantly helps to maintain stability. Rigorous stability evaluation under simulated environmental conditions is pivotal in estimating modifications in nanoparticle characteristics, encapsulation efficiency, and the release profile of active ingredients of agricultural interest. ...
... The biodegradability, biocompatibility, and known physical and chemical properties of PCL make it a promising candidate for the development of nanocarriers for agrochemical delivery. Further research and development in this area are ongoing, with a focus on optimizing the performance of PCL-based nanocarriers for agrochemical applications (Shakiba et al., 2019;Zargar et al., 2023;Del Prado-Audelo et al., 2022) ...
... Despite intensive attention to preparation and evaluation of the efficacy of smart pesticides with controlled release, reduced mobility, and phytotoxicity for crops and the environment using naturally and synthetic-based superabsorbents [17,[28][29][30][31][32][33][34], the lack of scientific works evaluating the impact of seed coating with SAP after pesticide treatment on their effectiveness in plant protection is still observed. Coating seeds with protective compounds enables their accurate application and represents the first line of protection against adverse biotic and abiotic factors [1,35]. ...
The technology of seed coating with superabsorbent polymer (SAP) has the potential to mitigate the negative impact of drought on seed germination and crop establishment. However, their application on the seed surface can affect the effectiveness of pesticides used for seed treatment in the protection against phytopathogens. In our work, the influence of the Aquaholder®Seed polymer coating on the effectiveness of fungicides in the protection of germinating seeds of spring barley cv. Bojos and Laudis against the fungal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana was studied. One-half of the seeds were first treated with fungicides, and then a polymer was applied. Fungicide efficacy was evaluated in a Petri dish test and pot test under the pathogen attack. Seed coating with SAP did not negatively affect fungicide efficacy. The percentage of germinated seeds, seedling emergence, plant height, and symptoms of the disease in the fungicide-treated variants were not significantly changed by the SAP application. Moreover, in cv. Laudis, the application of SAP alone partially protected germinating seeds against pathogen attack. The amount of pathogen DNA in plant tissues of cv. Laudis was not significantly different among seed treatments, while in cv. Bojos, the pathogen DNA increased in seeds coated with SAP alone but decreased in combined treatment with fungicides. These results demonstrated that SAP seed coating does not negatively affect the efficacy of fungicides used for seed protection against fungal pathogens.
... 5. Nanospheres and Nanogels: Nanospheres are dense, solid polymeric matrices in which the drug is either encapsulated within the core or distributed across the surface, as exemplified by Joshi et al. [41], who have successfully developed nanospheres consisting of bifenthrin nanoparticles stabilized by polymers. The authors of Prado-Audelo et al. [60] describe the preparation of nanospheres that contain a pesticide either trapped within their interior or adsorbed onto their surface. These nanospheres have either an amorphous or crystalline polymeric network structure. ...
Pest infestations can exert a substantial influence on both the quantity and quality of horticultural produce. The consumption of leaves stems, and fruits by these organisms can decrease crop yield and quality, thus causing direct harm to agricultural production. The prevailing method employed for protecting horticultural
crops entails the application of agricultural chemicals, including fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides. However, the prominent issues associated with these agrochemicals include heightened usage, enhanced pest resistance, and non-specific toxicity. This book chapter mainly focuses on exploiting nanotechnology in pest management of horticultural crops, nanoformulations for pest control, recent innovations in nanopesticides, risks, and regulations associated with using
nanopesticides in crops.
... These results emphasize that the toxicity of nanoparticles, particularly lipid nanoparticles, is a complex and multifaceted issue that demands careful evaluation and consideration of various factors. The observed low toxicity of PCL-TBZ on C. elegans in soil may be due to slower TBZ release from PCL NCs [31,88] and a slower degradation rate of PCL within the exposure period [16,17,31]. Studies have shown that PCL degrades more slowly in soil than in other environments, such as compost, with its biodegradation rate ranging from a few months to several years. ...
... being encapsulated within NCs that act as a protective barrier. And changes depend on the specific compound, soil characteristics, and duration of exposure [88]. Hence, the slow release of TBZ into the soil pore water, coupled with the bioavailability of nanopesticides as a complex (pesticide within NCs), could explain the observed alterations in the native soil nematode fauna in this study. ...
There is an increasing imperative to explore safer alternatives for pesticides due to their indiscriminate use and consequential health impacts on the environment and humans. Nanoformulations of pesticides are being developed as potential alternatives due to their beneficial properties, including enhanced solubility, targeted delivery to the site of action, improved stability and efficacy and reduced non-target effects. Nevertheless, a comprehensive assessment is necessary for these emerging nanopesticides compared to existing formulations, aiming to ascertain whether their "nano" characteristics exacerbate toxicity for non-target organisms. This study investigated the toxicity of tebuconazole (TBZ) in different formulations, including nanoformulations (poly-ε-caprolactone [PCL] and nanostructured lipid carrier [NLC] loaded with TBZ), as well as a commercial formulation, on the reproduction of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans in both aqueous and soil matrices. Additionally, the impact of the correspondent nanocarriers without TBZ on C. elegans was examined. In water, TBZ in the form of nano and commercial formulations exhibited higher toxicity on the nematodes' reproduction than the TBZ (a.s.) attributable to higher freely dissolved concentrations of TBZ, which resulted in a toxicity order, ranging from the most to the least toxic as follows: NLC-TBZ > PCL-TBZ > commercial formulation > TBZ (a.s.). For NLC-TBZ, the excess toxicity could be clearly explained by combined toxicity of TBZ (a.s.) and nanocarriers, with the effect addition of the separate single compounds matching the observed effects of the nanoformulation. For PCL-TBZ, effects were stronger than expected from the effect addition of TBZ (a.s.) and PCL nanocarriers, potentially due to enhanced bioavailability of encapsulated TBZ in the gut of the nematodes. In soil, NLC with and without loaded TBZ showed higher toxicity than other tested compounds, while PCL nanocarriers without TBZ did not exhibit negative effects on the reproduction of C. elegans. Microcosm experiment, where long-term effects on native soil nematode fauna were tested, confirmed that TBZ-nanoformulations act via combined toxic effects of TBZ and nanocarriers. These findings contribute valuable insights to understanding nanopesticides' ecotoxicity and underscore the need for harmonized regulatory assessments to evaluate these novel formulations adequately.
