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. 2019 Aug 1;24(15):2801.
doi: 10.3390/molecules24152801.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Pesticidal Activity of Emamectin Benzoate Nanoformulations against Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Asem Elabasy  1   2 , Ali Shoaib  1   2 , Muhammad Waqas  2 , Mingxing Jiang  3 , Zuhua Shi  4
Affiliations

Synthesis, Characterization, and Pesticidal Activity of Emamectin Benzoate Nanoformulations against Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Asem Elabasy et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Using nanotechnology to develop new formulations of pesticides is considered a possible option in enhancing the efficiency, safety, and photostability of pesticides under various climatic conditions. In the present study, two novel nanoformulations (NFs) were successfully prepared based on nano-delivery systems for emamectin benzoate (EMB) by loading it on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SNPs) as carriers through a freeze-drying method. The synthesized nanoformulations were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The results showed that SNPs and CNCs had a loading efficiency of 43.31% and 15.04% (w/w) for EMB, respectively, and could effectively protect EMB from photolysis under UV radiation. The LC50 values for EMB + SNPs, EMB + CNCs, and EMB commercial formulation against Phenacoccus solenopsis were 0.01, 0.05, and 0.31 μg/mL, respectively, indicating that both NFs were more effective than the EMB commercial formulation. This work seeks to develop new nano-carriers for potential applications of pesticides in plant protection, which will reduce the recommended dose of pesticides and thereby decrease the amount of pesticide residue in food and the environment.

Keywords: Phenacoccus solenopsis; biological activity; cellulose nanocrystals; delivery system; emamectin benzoate; silicon dioxide nanoparticles.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram of the preparation of the emamectin benzoate (EMB) + nanoformulations (NFs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Standard curve of emamectin benzoate.
Figure 3
Figure 3
FE-SEM image of CNCs (a) and TEM image of EMB + CNCs (b).
Figure 4
Figure 4
FE-SEM image of SNPs (a) and TEM image of EMB + SNPs (b).
Figure 5
Figure 5
XRD patterns of CNCs (a) and SNPs (b).
Figure 6
Figure 6
FTIR spectra of EMB + CNCs (A), CNCs (B) and EMB (C).
Figure 7
Figure 7
FTIR spectra of EMB + SNPs (A), SNPs (B), and EMB (C).
Figure 8
Figure 8
TGA curves for SNPs, EMB + SNPs, EMB (a), CNCs, EMB + CNCs and EMB (b).
Figure 9
Figure 9
(a,c) Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms of SNPs, EMB + SNPs, CNCs, and EMB + CNCs and (b,d) pore diameter distribution of SNPs and CNCs.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Photodegradation curves of EMB + CNCs, EMB (technical), EMB 1%, and EMB + SNPs under UV irradiation. Means at the same time followed by the same letters are not significantly different at p = 0.05 (LSD test). Mean is calculated from three repetitions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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