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.
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
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.
News
Cold Sore Virus Linked to Alzheimer’s, Antivirals May Lower Risk
Summary: A large study suggests that symptomatic infection with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)—best known for causing cold sores—may significantly raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that people with HSV-1 were 80% [...]
Nanoparticle-Based Combination Therapy for Resistant Melanoma
A recent study published in Small addresses the persistent difficulty of treating refractory melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer that often does not respond to existing therapies. Although diagnostic tools and immunotherapies have improved in [...]
Our DNA May Evolve Much Faster Than Previously Thought
Rapidly mutating DNA regions were mapped using a multi-generational family and advanced sequencing tools. Understanding how human DNA changes over generations is crucial for estimating genetic disease risks and tracing our evolutionary history. However, some of [...]
AI therapy may help with mental health, but innovation should never outpace ethics
Mental health services around the world are stretched thinner than ever. Long wait times, barriers to accessing care and rising rates of depression and anxiety have made it harder for people to get timely help. As a result, governments and health care providers are [...]
Global life expectancy plunges as WHO warns of deepening health crisis Post-COVID
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm on the long-term health repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic in its newly released World Health Statistics Report 2025. The report reveals a staggering decline in global [...]
Researchers map brain networks involved in word retrieval
How are we able to recall a word we want to say? This basic ability, called word retrieval, is often compromised in patients with brain damage. Interestingly, many patients who can name words they [...]
Melting Ice Is Changing the Color of the Ocean – Scientists Are Alarmed
Melting sea ice changes not only how much light enters the ocean, but also its color, disrupting marine photosynthesis and altering Arctic ecosystems in subtle but profound ways. As global warming causes sea ice in the [...]
Your Washing Machine Might Be Helping Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Spread
A new study reveals that biofilms in washing machines may contain potential pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes, posing possible risks for laundering healthcare workers’ uniforms at home. Washing healthcare uniforms at home could be [...]
Scientists Discover Hidden Cause of Alzheimer’s Hiding in Plain Sight
Researchers found the PHGDH gene directly causes Alzheimer’s and discovered a drug-like molecule, NCT-503, that may help treat the disease early by targeting the gene’s hidden function. A recent study has revealed that a gene previously [...]
How Brain Cells Talk: Inside the Complex Language of the Human Mind
Introduction The human brain contains nearly 86 billion neurons, constantly exchanging messages like an immense social media network, but neurons do not work alone – glial cells, neurotransmitters, receptors, and other molecules form a vast [...]
Oxford study reveals how COVID-19 vaccines prevent severe illness
A landmark study by scientists at the University of Oxford, has unveiled crucial insights into the way that COVID-19 vaccines mitigate severe illness in those who have been vaccinated. Despite the global success of [...]
Annual blood test could detect cancer earlier and save lives
A single blood test, designed to pick up chemical signals indicative of the presence of many different types of cancer, could potentially thwart progression to advanced disease while the malignancy is still at an early [...]
How the FDA opens the door to risky chemicals in America’s food supply
Lining the shelves of American supermarkets are food products with chemicals linked to health concerns. To a great extent, the FDA allows food companies to determine for themselves whether their ingredients and additives are [...]
Superbug crisis could get worse, killing nearly 40 million people by 2050
The number of lives lost around the world due to infections that are resistant to the medications intended to treat them could increase nearly 70% by 2050, a new study projects, further showing the [...]
How Can Nanomaterials Be Programmed for Different Applications?
Nanomaterials are no longer just small—they are becoming smart. Across fields like medicine, electronics, energy, and materials science, researchers are now programming nanomaterials to behave in intentional, responsive ways. These advanced materials are designed [...]
Microplastics Are Invading Our Arteries, and It Could Be Increasing Your Risk of Stroke
Higher levels of micronanoplastics were found in carotid artery plaque, especially in people with stroke symptoms, suggesting a potential new risk factor. People with plaque buildup in the arteries of their neck have been [...]
