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Nanotechnology has a wide range of applications, including modern agriculture. Nanoparticles have a particle size between 1 and 100 nanometers and can be used to promote plant growth and protect them from harmful pests, such as insects and other pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The main advantage of using nano-insecticides (insecticides based on nanotechnology) is that they have minimal impact on non-target insects and are environmentally friendly.
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Nanoparticles are used as nano-pesticides due to their unique properties, and can be synthesized by a variety of methods, namely chemical and biological or green synthesis. In the case of biological nanoparticles, they are synthesized using plant extracts. Several biological nanoparticles have been found to be effective against the green peach aphid.
The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture has attracted much attention due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health. In traditional agriculture, chemicals such as organophosphates, pyrethroids and carbamates are used as pesticides. Although these chemical pesticides are effective, in most cases, researchers have observed that they cannot reach the target insects and either disappear in the air or leach out in soil and water.
Overuse or misuse of these chemicals may cause resistance to pesticides. Therefore, farmers suffer huge agricultural losses due to pests. In addition, these chemicals have an adverse effect on the agricultural sector and are harmful to humans.
Nanotechnology provides a way to overcome these adverse effects. Nanotechnology-based pesticides for plant protection involve the application of active ingredients in the nanoscale range. Scientists have used nanoparticles as ingredients in new pesticide formulations, or provide active ingredients that are effective against target pests.
Unlike traditional hydrophobic pesticides, nanocides are water-soluble components that can eliminate the use of toxic organic solvents. They also have high biological activity and coverage uniformity. These nano-based insecticides can slow the development of resistance of target pests because they are usually applied in small amounts and quickly absorbed by cells. For example, the study found that the fruits and leaves of the green sweet peppers that participated in the study lacked the accumulation of metal nanoparticles.
Many plant-derived products (PDP), such as terpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids, can effectively limit insects through a variety of mechanisms such as antifeedants, insect repellents, oviposition deterrents, insect growth regulators, and toxicity. These active ingredients can be effectively introduced into the target site using nanocarriers.
The "Pesticide Delivery System" (PDS) was developed from the concept of drug delivery using nanoparticles in medical research. Scientists designed PDS to deliver active ingredients to specific targets with precise concentrations and durations to obtain the best biological efficacy and minimize the adverse effects on non-target insects.
This kind of controlled delivery system plays a vital role in delivering the best amount of pesticide at a given time. The main advantages of using nanoparticles in PDS are their high loading capacity, rapid mass transfer to the insect body (target), larger surface area, and ability to attach to various pesticide molecules. Scientists have discovered that nanocarriers such as alumina, polymers, synthetic silica, silver and copper can effectively deliver active ingredients with insecticidal properties to target insects.
Nano particles such as silver, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide and titanium oxide have insecticidal properties. Many studies have shown that nanomaterials such as copper oxide (CuONPs), zinc oxide (ZnONPs), magnesium hydroxide (MgOHNPs) and magnesium oxide (MgONPs) are also effective against harmful pests. Some other commonly used nanoparticles in agriculture are discussed below.
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Silica nanoparticles are considered to be a possible alternative to traditional insecticides, and their mode of action is considered to be directly abrading the stratum corneum of insects or adsorbing through the stratum corneum. In addition, scientists revealed that silica nanoparticles have an indirect insecticidal effect on pests that eat processed plants or food by damaging the digestive tract or inducing external morphological abnormalities. The nanoparticles can successfully inhibit many pests, including Spodoptera litura, aphids, golden laver and trilobite louse.
Because of their many unique properties, such as antibacterial and insecticidal properties, they are widely used in agricultural research. A recent study using Tenebrio molitor (Tebello molitor) showed that silver nanoparticles cause more than 70% of larval mortality. The researchers also reported that ethanol-based nano-silver colloids can cause 100% mortality of dermatophyte larvae.
The dust formulation of nanostructured alumina has been found to be effective against Sitophilus oryzae (rice weevil) and Rhyzopertha dominica (wheat weevil) within three days after its introduction.
One of the main challenges that scientists encounter when formulating commercial-grade nano-pesticides is that the encapsulated nano-formulations are unstable when exposed to ultraviolet radiation. In addition, some nano-formulations using azadirachtin are genetically toxic and have cytotoxic effects on plants. However, researchers have observed that these adverse effects can be reduced during plant development in the sun.
Some nanomaterials, such as multi-walled carbon and zinc, can negatively affect the germination index of some vegetables such as ryegrass and tomatoes. Nanomaterials are safe at optimal sizes, but they may become toxic and non-biodegradable at certain threshold sizes. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the toxicity characteristics of the new nanoformulations before application.
Rankic, I. etc. (2021) Nano/microparticles combined with microalgae extract as a new insecticide against yellow mealworm beetles and yellow mealworms. Scientific report. 11, 17125. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96426-0
Tarbet, AF etc. (2021) Silica nanoparticles act as insecticides against different feeding types of insects and their non-target attraction to predators. Scientific report. 11, 14484. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93518-9
Deka, B. etc. (2021) Nano-pesticides: a systematic review of their prospects, especially the management of tea pests. The frontier of nutrition. 8.pp.393. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.686131
Camara, MC etc. (2019) Stimulate and respond to the development of nano-pesticides: emerging opportunities for agriculture. Journal of Nanobiotechnology. 17, 100. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-019-0533-8
Kah, M. (2015) Discovery of new pesticides containing nanoparticles: emerging pollutants or opportunities for risk reduction? Frontiers of Chemistry. 3. Page 64. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2015.00064
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Priyom has a PhD. Bachelor of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Madras, India. She is an active researcher and experienced scientific writer. Priyom has also co-authored several original research articles, which have been published in well-known peer-reviewed journals. She is also an avid reader and amateur photographer.
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