Bimetalic Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework as Novel Nanocarrier for Efficient Loading and Controlled Release of Dinotefuran

MOF (metal-organic framework) nanopesticides have been demonstrated to enhance the efficacy of pesticides by releasing sufficient amounts of active ingredients when triggered by environmental and biological factors, which has led to their widespread utilization in pesticide applications. Additionally, nanopesticides face several challenges, including inconsistent field performance, trade-offs between controlled release and loading capacity, and insufficient adhesion/retention on plant surfaces. In order to solve the deficiencies of ZIFs (zeolitic imidazolate frameworks) in terms of drug loading rate and stability, zinc-manganese bimetallic ZIFs (ZnMn-ZIFs) were innovatively designed and prepared as pesticide carriers in this study. Under optimal conditions, the Dinotefuran (DNF) loading capacity of ZnMn-ZIFs increased by 111.3% compared to the unoptimized carrier. In PBS at pH 5, ZnMn-ZIFs/DNF@MPN (metal polyphenol network) demonstrated rapid and efficient release, reaching a cumulative release of 96.26% within 24 h, which underscores its advantage for responsive pesticide delivery in acidic microenvironments. In addition, its photostability was significantly enhanced, and the DNF degradation rate was reduced from 98 to 53% after light exposure. The biosafety assessment showed that the germination rate of the treated by ZnMn-ZIFs/DNF@MPN increased from 87 to 93% in the carrot germination experiment. The ZnMn-ZIFs/DNF@MPN nanopesticide carrier system developed by our institute significantly enhances DNF utilization efficiency, foliar residues rose from 7.30 to 12.43%, and UV degradation fell from 98 to 53%. It demonstrates considerable promise for reducing pesticide dosage and application frequency, safeguarding agricultural product safety, and mitigating residue risks.