Nanoformulation Techniques in Agricultural Pest Management

Nanoformulation techniques harness nanoscale carriers to deliver pesticides, herbicides and biocontrol agents with enhanced specificity, stability and efficiency. By encapsulating active ingredients within polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, nanoemulsions or inorganic matrices, these systems can achieve controlled release profiles that respond to pH, redox conditions or enzymatic stimuli in the field. Targeted delivery to pest organisms or plant tissues reduces off-target exposure and environmental contamination while lowering overall usage rates. Advances in materials science have yielded biodegradable carriers based on chitosan, poly(ε-caprolactone) and lignin, among others, that combine high encapsulation efficiency with minimal non-target toxicity. Characterisation techniques such as dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy guide optimisation of size, surface charge and dispersibility. Integration of nanoformulations into seed coatings, foliar sprays and soil treatments has demonstrated improved pest control, enhanced crop resilience and compatibility with integrated pest management strategies on a global scale.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have shown that chitosan-based nanoparticles can co-encapsulate multiple herbicides, achieving sustained release over several weeks, enhanced uptake by weeds and reduced toxicity to soil microorganisms. Fabrication methods employing ionotropic gelation yield particles around 300–400 nm with encapsulation efficiencies of 50–70 %, leading to lower application doses and diminished genotoxic effects compared with free herbicides. Further work has developed poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules loaded with neem oil as a botanical pesticide alternative. These formulations remain stable under ambient conditions for months, deliver active terpenoids effectively and exhibit negligible impact on non-target plants or microbial communities, highlighting their potential for environmentally benign pest management.

Nanoformulation Techniques in Agricultural Pest Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanoformulation techniques in agricultural pest management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanoformulation: The process of designing and producing nanoscale carriers for bioactive compounds to improve delivery and performance.
Nanocarrier: A nanoscale vehicle that encapsulates active molecules, enabling controlled release and targeted delivery to specific sites.
Encapsulation efficiency: The proportion of an active ingredient successfully loaded into a nanocarrier relative to the total amount used in preparation.
Controlled release: A mechanism by which a nanocarrier releases its active payload in a regulated manner over time or in response to environmental triggers.
Targeted delivery: The directed transport of pesticides to specific pests or plant tissues to enhance efficacy and reduce off-target effects.

References

1. Nanoparticles Based on Chitosan as Carriers for the Combined Herbicides Imazapic and Imazapyr. Scientific Reports (2016).
2. Nanocapsules Containing Neem (Azadirachta Indica) Oil: Development, Characterization, And Toxicity Evaluation. Scientific Reports (2017).
3. Glutathione-Responsive Carboxymethyl Chitosan Nanoparticles for Controlled Release of Herbicides. Materials Sciences and Applications (2015).
4. Interaction between a nano-formulation of atrazine and rhizosphere bacterial communities: atrazine degradation and bacterial community alterations. Environmental Science Nano (2020).
5. Zein and lignin-based nanoparticles as soybean seed treatment: translocation and impact on seed and plant health. Applied Nanoscience (2022).