Redox and Near-Infrared Light-Responsive Nanoplatform for Enhanced Pesticide Delivery and Pest Control in Rice: Construction, Efficacy, and Potential Mechanisms

Abstract

The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stal), is a major rice pest in various Asian countries, causing significant negative impacts on rice yield and quality. In this study, we developed a novel nanoplatform (NIT@MON@ CuS) for pesticide delivery that responds to redox and near-infrared light stimuli. The nanoplatform consisted of CuS nanoparticles with mesoporous organic silica (MON), loaded with nitenpyram (NIT). With an average size of 190 nm and a loading efficiency of 22%, NIT@MON@CuS exhibited remarkable thermal response in the near-infrared region, demonstrating excellent photothermal conversion ability and stability. In vitro release kinetics demonstrated the rapid release of nitenpyram under near-infrared light and glutathione conditions, facilitating a satisfactory temperature increase and accelerated drug release. The NIT@MON@CuS-treated group exhibited a higher mortality of N. lugens, increasing from 62 to 88% compared to the group treated with nitenpyram technical after 96 h. Bioassay revealed that NIT@MON@CuS significantly enhanced nitenpyram toxicity by more than 1.4-fold against both laboratory insecticide-resistant and field strains of N. lugens. Furthermore, RT-qPCR results demonstrated that MON@CuS had the capability to reduce P450 gene expression, thereby improving the sensitivity of N. lugens to insecticides. These findings suggest that MON@CuS holds great potential as an intelligent pest control platform, offering a sustainable and efficient approach to protect crops against pests.

Efficient Control of Rhizoctonia solani Using Environmentally Friendly pH-Responsive Tannic Acid–Rosin Nano-Microcapsules

“…According to the methods reported in previous studies, − the chemical functional groups of the samples were analyzed by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR, Nicolet iS10, Thermo Fisher Scientific, U.S.A.) with a scanning range of 4000 to 500 cm –1 with 32 scans at a resolution of 4 cm –1 . In the morphological observation of nanomicrocapsules, 5 μL of a diluted sample of nanomicrocapsules (20 μg/mL) was dropped onto the 200 mesh carbon film-supported copper grids.…”

Porous Silica Nanocarriers: Advances in Structural Orientation and Modification to Develop Sustainable Pesticide Delivery Systems

“…(b) Temperature elevation of DI H 2 O, MON, and MON@CuS under NIR laser irradiation (808 nm, 1 W/cm 2 ). Reprinted (adapted) with permission from ref . Copyright 2023 American Chemical Society.…”

“…Zong and co-workers in their study investigated the effects of NIR on the photothermal performance and release pattern of nitenpyram (NIT) insecticide from copper sulfide (CuS) modified mesoporous organo-silica nanomaterials (MONs) . In contrast to pure water or MON, MON@CuS exhibited a significant temperature increase from 27 to 46 °C, showing enhanced photothermal effects attributed to CuS modification (Figure b).…”

A Smart Pesticide-Controlled Release Platform with Dual Stimuli-Responsive Functions for Enhanced Treatment of Plant Black Shank

“…Chemical pesticides, while effective in controlling crop diseases, have been found to be toxic to nontarget organisms and pose a threat to the ecosystem through various means of entry such as discharge, drifting, drainage, and surface runoff. − To address these issues, botanical pesticides have emerged as a viable alternative due to their eco-friendly nature, efficiency, and affordability. − However, the direct administration of botanical pesticides often results in their rapid degradation by the environment, leading to poor utilization rates and low treatment efficacy, thereby hampering the acceptance of botanical pesticides in modern agriculture . Therefore, the development of smart controlled release platforms (SCRPs) for botanical pesticides is highly desirable. − …”