Tailored Nanopesticides Support Sustainable Agricultural Practice

Nanotechnology research offers a realistic and efficient method for reducing pesticide waste and enhancing pesticide consumption. A new publication in the journal ACS Agricultural Science & Technology discusses the development of chlorpyrifos-loaded silica nanomaterials enhanced with polydopamine (Cpf-MSNs@PDA) for intelligent pest management.

Tailored Nanopesticides Support Sustainable Agricultural Practice

Study: An Alkali-Triggered Polydopamine Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanopesticide for Smart Delivery of Chlorpyrifos with Low Loss. Image Credit: David Moreno Hernandez/Shutterstock.com

The release of chlorpyrifos from the hybrid composite was alkali- and heat-dependent, ensuring the effective constituent's continuous and consistent efficacy over an extended period. The creation of an intelligent nanoparticle for the management of a specific plant diseases generates new ideas for organic farming.

Importance of Pesticides

Pesticides are critical for reducing and managing plant diseases, bugs, and weeds, which are necessary for agricultural production, repairing around 30% of worldwide crop damage. However, more than 90% of conventional pesticides infiltrate the ecosystem during the deposition process, resulting in environmental damage.

Presently, it is believed that developing a controlled-release pesticide technology would efficiently decrease pesticide wastage and increase pesticide consumption. With the advancement of nanomaterials and their widespread use in crop production, several novel pesticide compositions have been created, including nano caplets, nanoliposomes, and nanogels.

Various nanoparticles, including graphene oxide, charcoal, elastomer, and kaolin minerals, have been employed as pesticide carriers so far.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNs) as Pesticide Carriers

Among these alternate substrates, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are recognized as attractive transport nanomaterials for drug delivery applications owing to their high effective porous structure volume, tunable pore size, and good cytocompatibility. MSNs are considered to be reasonably safe for crops and can be employed as pesticide transporters to ensure effective pesticide administration, with no inhibition zone or lesion found in the treated plants during trials.

Additionally, the conveniently synthesized surface morphology of MSNs enables the incorporation of adaptable substances or polymeric materials, enabling the development of a nanopesticide delivery mechanism that is responsive to external stimuli (such as pH, illumination, and heat) and thus enables the controlled release of pesticide elements.

Polydopamine (PDA): pH-Responsive Gatekeeper Molecule

To achieve the precise reaction of a nanopesticide to environmental stimuli, the nanocomposite's surface layer is often altered with reactive gatekeeper molecules. Due to its excellent biological properties, high adhesion, and high photocatalytic effectiveness, polydopamine (PDA), a substance derived from mussels, has garnered significant interest. PDA's superior film-forming capacity enables it to be uniformly deposited on the exterior of a wide variety of materials for general applications. Additionally, several studies have shown that PDA can be employed as a pH-responsive gatekeeper molecule to regulate drug delivery systems.

Development of an Intelligent Nanopesticide Composite

In this study, the researchers developed a smart nanopesticides compound based on a PDA-modified mesoporous silica nanocomposite (MSN) structure that helps pesticide particles to be released in response to an alkaline stimulus.

Chlorpyrifos (Cpf), a wide-spectrum organophosphate pesticide with dermal contact and gastro toxicity, was chosen as the prototype pesticide due to its widespread usage in farming to control pests. The release rate of Cpf was thoroughly investigated in the presence of pH and other biogenic triggers. Cpf-foliar MSNs@PDA's adherence, rainfall-runoff tolerance, and pesticide effectiveness were also investigated to determine its durability.

Research Conclusion and Prospect

In conclusion, Cpf-MSNs@PDA, an alkali-triggered nanoscale pesticide combination, was developed in this work. The microporous morphology on the interface of the MSNs was restricted due to the containment of PDA, which limits the extraction efficiency of Cpf into the external environment.

To produce the alkaline-triggered discharge of Cpf-MSNs@PDA, PDA works as a pH-responsive barrier molecule. This novel composite was discovered to have outstanding foliar adherence and great rainfall erosion resistance in simulated testing, indicating that it can significantly prevent pesticide losses due to leaf slippage and rainfall runoff. The presence and degradability of pesticides in the midgut were established by inspection of the gastrointestinal tissue of M. separata, and the probable mechanism of Cpf-MSNs@PDA was established.

This research suggests a viable method for reducing pesticide wastage and contamination in the ecosystem. However, simulated results may not provide accurate physical results. Therefore, field studies should be conducted to improve the efficacy of nanopesticide compounds in the future.

Reference

Kan, Q. et al. (2022). An Alkali-Triggered Polydopamine Modified Mesoporous Silica Nanopesticide for Smart Delivery of Chlorpyrifos with Low Loss. ACS Agricultural Science & Technology. Available at: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsagscitech.1c00269.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

Hussain Ahmed

Written by

Hussain Ahmed

Hussain graduated from Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad with Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering. During his studies, he worked on several research projects related to Aerospace Materials & Structures, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Nano-technology & Robotics. After graduating, he has been working as a freelance Aerospace Engineering consultant. He developed an interest in technical writing during sophomore year of his B.S degree and has wrote several research articles in different publications. During his free time, he enjoys writing poetry, watching movies and playing Football.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Ahmed, Hussain. (2022, March 18). Tailored Nanopesticides Support Sustainable Agricultural Practice. AZoNano. Retrieved on December 12, 2024 from https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=38847.

  • MLA

    Ahmed, Hussain. "Tailored Nanopesticides Support Sustainable Agricultural Practice". AZoNano. 12 December 2024. <https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=38847>.

  • Chicago

    Ahmed, Hussain. "Tailored Nanopesticides Support Sustainable Agricultural Practice". AZoNano. https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=38847. (accessed December 12, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Ahmed, Hussain. 2022. Tailored Nanopesticides Support Sustainable Agricultural Practice. AZoNano, viewed 12 December 2024, https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=38847.

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this news story?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.