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Nano-pesticide Research in CAAS

Dr. Haixin Cui

2014.11.18

Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture,

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

cuihaixin@caas.cn

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Global input over 4.5 million tons per year

Involving thousands of toxic compounds

Saving about 30% loss of the total production2

Pesticides are an essential substances

for the security of agricultural production

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More than 70% pesticides flow into the environment,and residue in plant products in process of application.

Techinial (TC) Formulation Water-dilution Using

Insoluble

compounds

Emulsifiable concentrate (EC)

Water power (WP)

Pesticide

solution

Spraying

Conventional formulations of pesticide

with low efficiency and safety

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Residues in food, environmental pollution,loss of biodiversity, ecological degradation, etc.

Inefficient use of pesticides causing

a series of food safety and environmental problems

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A new way for developing novel formulation of pesticide with

high efficacy and safety, such as insecticides, fungicides,herbicides, antibiotics, growth regulator, and bio-active compounds;

An excellent means for establishing environmentally friendly

and sustainable agriculture system by reduced overall chemicalusage, decreased toxic residues and improved management of

fertilization and crop protection;

An important approach for controlling pesticide residues andpollutionby reducing cropland input and environmental emissions.

Nanotechnologies offering a tool for novel formulation of

environmentally friendly pesticide

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Fundamental study on nanotechnology

to improve the efficacy and safety of pesticides

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Size-down of pesticide particles increasing

bioavailability and efficiency

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Four key scientific issues to be clear

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1. Formulation of smart nano-delivery systems

Dispersion

approaches

Properties

Construction

dispersion, stability, adhesion, permeability and release

loading model, assembly process and preparation process

Delivery

systems

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2. Mechanism on leaf deposition and dose transfer

Improving leaf adhesion, deposition rate and duration10

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3. Bioavailability increase of pesticide nano-delivery

system

Increase of toxicity and effectivenessthrough improving interaction mode and targeting delivery. 11

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Increase on food safety and decrease on environmental risks.

4. Catalytic degradation of pesticide residues

and improvement of environmental behaviors

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Research Objectives of Nano-pesticides

Desirable Properties Examples of Nanopesticieds-Enabled Technologies

Targeted deliveryIncreasing targetable transmission efficiency of pesticide into

action targets, such as plants, insects, pathogen.

Controlled release Controll i n g release speed of pesticide to maintain leasteffective concentration for killing pests and pathogens.

Water dispersion Increasing solubility and dispersion for fat-soluble drugs in

aqueous solution.

Chemical stability Improving chemical stability for light-sensitive compounds

by restricting photo-degradation.

Bioavailability Increasing bioavailability for saving pesticides.

Efficacy duration Reducing pesticides application and treatment frequency byextended efficacy duration.

Lower toxicity Protecting biodiversity in ecosystem .

Environmental

friendliness

Reducing food residues and non-point source pollution due to

the minimum pesticide loss.13

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R&D Strategies for Nano-pesticides

Technical Obstacles Priority Issues of Nano-pesticieds-Enabled Technologies

Safe carrier systems To formulate smart delivery systems in mesoporous, nano-structured

material, molecular sieve or nano-particles, etc.

Nano-encapsulation To improve release rate and chemical stability by encapsulatedpesticide in nano-capsules, micelles, liposomes, etc.

Nano-emulsion To increase solubility and dispersion for fat-soluble drugs in aqueous

solution by self-emulsifying delivery system.

Target mediatedmodification

To improve affinity of pesticide to leaf surface using target-mediatedmolecules.

Nanosized process To render higher solubility and dispersion for insoluble or fat-

dispersible compounds nanosized in aqueous solution.

Inclusion

To control release and protect pesticide molecules by absorbed

pesticide in nano-polymer or mesoporous materials.

Nano-coated

granulation

To create slow/controlled release formulation of insecticides or

fungicides to control soil infection diseases and soil pests.

Aqueous colloid

dispersion system

To develop EC alternative products with less toxic solvents for fat-

soluble compounds.14

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Advantages of Nano-pesticides

Increase on use efficiency by improvement of drug release and

delivery properties

Substantial residue reduction in food and environmental

pollution

Decrease of toxicityto non-target wildlife and ecological system

Improvement on crop protection and production management

Cost savingsby reduction on pesticide dosage and frequency.

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Slow/controlled release formulationmay be preferable choices in

controlling soil diseases, pests and weeds for reduced toxic

residues in soil and food

Aqueous dispersion formulation may gradually substitute EC

products to avoid the pollution of organic solvents

Nano-capsule formulation may be used in larger scale forimproved stability, bioavailability and efficacy duration of bio-

pesticides

Leaf-affinity formulationmight be more suitable in crop sprayingfor increased utilization of biological targets.

Prospective Application of Nanopesticides

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Risks and safety ofnanopesticides

Some toxic nano-particles from pesticides may flow into the

environment and food systems threaten human health and

ecosystem balance.

safety and risk assessments of nanopesticides

Research must be conducted according to established method of

nano-toxicology and nano-medicine.

Avoiding usage of high toxic nano-particlesMore safe and biodegradable carriers nanomaterials should be

developed for the production of nano-pesticides.

Some Strategies to Avoid the Risks

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Research projects (as a national leader)

Project Research plan Duration

Novel nano-carriers for agricultural

bio-drugs

863 Program 2006-2010

Photocatalystic ethyline degradation

unit for fruit fresh storage863 Program 2007-2010

Nano-carriers delivery systems forgene transfer

National PriorityR&D Program

2009-2010

Novel Formulation of Biological

pesticides863 Program 2011-2015

Application of nanomaterials in

agricultureCAAS Program 2014-2018

Basic Research on Improving the

Effectiveness and Safety of Pesticides

by nanotechnology

973 Program 2014-2018

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Application of nano-TiO2 sol in crop diseases control

Photochem. Photobiol. 2010, 113539

Eur. Cells Mater. 2010, 293-293NSTI-Nanotech. 2009, 286-89 19

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Micropor. Mesopor. Mat. 2013, 169, 1-6 Microchim. Acta 2011, 73, 51-7

IET Nanobiotechnol. 2009, 4, 10308 Pest Manag. Sci. 2011, 67, 8313620

Nanocapsule pesticides were prepared using biocompatible polymers,

which can reduce spray drift through improved behaviors of adhesion

on leaves, and prevent them from environmental degradation.

Sustained-release of nanocapsule pesticide

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Thanks

Nano agricultural innovation team