This development demonstrates improved pesticide efficacy and reduced toxicity in an environmentally safer manner.
A precise and low-toxicity pesticide delivery system is essential to enhancing pesticide efficacy and sustainability. Herein, a facile strategy is developed to construct leaf-adhesive and pH-responsive emamectin benzoate nanopesticides (EB NPs), in which Ca²⁺ cross-links copolymer surfactant/nonionic surfactant/sodium alginate in coacervates. The uniform nanosize of EB NPs enables them to penetrate the microstructure of plant leaves, thereby improving their deposition and antiwashing ability. Moreover, the pH-responsive EB NPs facilitate precise release of encapsulated emamectin benzoate (EB) in the alkaline midgut (pH 9-10) of Plutella xylostella larvae by displacing Ca²⁺ in the alginate nanoskeleton, along with the nanostructure disintegration. Notably, the acute toxicity of EB NPs to zebrafish is reduced to less than one-seventh that of commercial EB microemulsion formulation. This nanopesticide approach shows excellent potential to improve the pesticide efficacy and safety.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Yang et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: