Advances in Biopolymeric Nanopesticides: A New Eco-Friendly/Eco-Protective Perspective in Precision Agriculture

Abstract

Pesticides are essential to contemporary agriculture and are required to safeguard plants from hazardous pests, diseases, and weeds. In addition to harming the environment, overusing these pesticides causes pests to become resistant over time. Alternative methods and agrochemicals are therefore required to combat resistance. A potential solution to pesticide resistance and other issues may be found in nanotechnology. Due to their small size, high surface-area-to-volume ratio, and ability to offer novel crop protection techniques, nanoformulations, primarily biopolymer-based ones, can address specific agricultural concerns. Several biopolymers can be employed to load pesticides, including starch, cellulose, chitosan, pectin, agar, and alginate. Other biopolymeric nanomaterials can load pesticides for targeted delivery, including gums, carrageenan, galactomannans, and tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP). Aside from presenting other benefits, such as reduced toxicity, increased stability/shelf life, and improved pesticide solubility, biopolymeric systems are also cost-effective; readily available; biocompatible; biodegradable; and biosafe (i.e., releasing associated active compounds gradually, without endangering the environment) and have a low carbon footprint. Additionally, biopolymeric nanoformulations support plant growth while improving soil aeration and microbial activity, which may favor the environment. The present review provides a thorough analysis of the toxicity and release behavior of biopolymeric nanopesticides for targeted delivery in precision crop protection.

Biopesticides as a promising alternative to synthetic pesticides: A case for microbial pesticides, phytopesticides, and nanobiopesticides

“…Nanobiopesticides have found application as pesticidal agents in agriculture because of their excellent physicochemical characteristics like size, reactivity, surface area, and so on. Besides, nanobiopesticides have unambiguous biological interactions with plants, as well as clear transport and fate in the environment ( Bratovcic et al, 2021 ; Kumar et al, 2022 ; Pan et al, 2023 ).…”

Caenorhabditis elegans as a Prediction Platform for Nanotechnology-Based Strategies: Insights on Analytical Challenges

“…Therefore, there is a reduced delivery to the target, impacting their biological effectiveness and requiring several reapplications. This indiscriminate use also triggers various adverse environmental effects directly associated with a wide range of pollutants and micropollutants through their bioaccumulation, bioconcentration, and biomagnification [ 145 ].…”

“…Most formulations for nanopesticides are based on polymers, nanomaterials, and nanoemulsions [ 147 ]. The nanostructure protects the internal content (pesticide) and provides features such as slow, controlled, and sustained active ingredient release, increasing the product shelf life and improving the solubility of these molecules in water [ 145 ]. In addition, nanoencapsulation also allows using less toxic alternative formulations that are more sensitive, protect from environmental degradation, and control pathogens, weeds, and insects in crops.…”

Cinnamon Oil Encapsulated with Silica Nanoparticles: Chemical Characterization and Evaluation of Insecticidal Activity Against the Rice Moth, Corcyra cephalonica

“…Nanoencapsulation of essential oils has the following advantages: they can be easily ingested by the target organisms, are more active than normal pesticides, are ecofriendly and biodegradable, and do not lead to the development of resistance, as observed for crude plant-based nanopesticides (Kumar et al 2022 ); moreover, only small quantities are required, they have a long shelf life, and they cause less pollution (Kumar et al 2019 ; Lade et al 2019 and Deka et al 2021 ). Finally, the controlled release of active substance allows for the more effective use of the oils over a given time interval (Shrankhla 2014 ).…”