Biopesticides have become a global trend in order to minimize the hazards derived from synthetic chemical pesticides and improve the safety, efficacy, and environmental friendliness of agricultural pest management. Herein, we report a novel biopesticide composite encapsulating azadirachtin with the size of 260.9 ± 6.8 nm and its effects on the insect pest Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm). The nanocomposite biopesticide was produced via nano emulsification and freeze-drying process using whey protein isolate as a nanocarrier matrix to encapsulate azadirachtin, a natural insect-killing compound obtained from neem seed. We found that the nanocomposite biopesticide acted quicker and with greater efficacy than bulk azadirachtin treatment with corresponding LC50 values within 11 days of S. frugiperda larvae survival. Through confocal microscopy, we found the enhanced biodistribution of the nanocomposite to all parts of the insect body. Photodegradation assays revealed an enhanced UV stability facilitated by light-scattering stemming from the intrinsic nanostructure and UV scavenging vitamin-E component.

In the past, bio-inspired extreme water repellent property has been strategicallye mbedded on commercially available sponges for developing selective oil absorbents. However,m ost of the reported materials lack physicala nd chemical durability,l imiting their applicabilitya tp ractically harsh settings.Herein, astable dispersion of polymeric nanocomplexes was exploited to achieve ac hemically reactive coating on the highly compressible melamine foam. As uperhydrophobic melamine foam (SMF) was achieved after post-covalent modification of the reactive coating through 1,4-conjugate addition reactiona ta mbient conditions. The durability of the embedded extreme water repellent property in the as-modified melamine foam has been elaborately demonstrated throughe xposing it to severe physical manipulations, chemically harsh aqueous media including pH 1, pH 12, surfactant contaminated water,r iver water,s eawater and prolonged UV irradiation. Thus, the highly tolerantS MF was utilized as an efficient oil absorbent wherein oils of varying densitiesc ould be selectively recovered from an oil/ water interface with high (e.g.,1 37 gg À1 for chloroform and 83 gg À1 for diesel) oil absorption capacity.M oreover,t he selectiveo il absorption capacity of the as-synthesized material remained unaffected at practically relevant severe chemical and physical settings,a nd the extreme water repellency of the material remained unaltered even after repetitive (at least 50 cycles) use for oil/water separation.

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Lack of maintenance and poor sanitation of food-contact surfaces (FCSs) can result in foodborne microbial contamination and biofilm formation. With increasing industrial concerns over food safety and hygiene, it is important to keep FCSs bacteria-free to protect the consumers from various foodborne illnesses. In the current study, we report the fabrication of highly durable nanodiamond (ND) based coatings on high-density polyethylene (HDPE), combining the chemisorption of low surface energy ligands and rigid nanotexturing. The coated HDPE surfaces resulted in static, advancing, and receding water contact angles of 151.1 ± 0.3°, 155.0 ± 1.0°, and 151.0 ± 1.9°, respectively. This superhydrophobic coating demonstrated excellent mechanical durability, retaining its highly water-repellent nature after surface abrasion with spinach leaves and onion peels, as well as after 50 cycles of sand abrasion. In comparison to bare HDPE, the adhesion of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 and Listeria innocua bacteria onto the coated surfaces was reduced by 2.1 ± 0.43 (>99.34%) and 1.6 ± 0.55 (>97.75%) log-cycles, respectively. In addition, the coated substrates successfully reduced the cross-contamination of spinach leaves by S. typhimurium LT2 and L. innocua. Overall, this study demonstrates the proof-of-concept that durable superhydrophobic coatings involving nanodiamond on HDPE have the potential to reduce bacterial cross-contamination scenarios of FCSs in food processing environments.