Development Strategies and Prospects of Nano-based Smart Pesticide Formulation

Pesticides are important inputs for enhancing crop productivity and preventing major biological disasters. However, more than 90% of pesticides run off into the environment and reside in agricultural products in the process of application as a result of the disadvantages of conventional pesticide formulation, such as the use of a harmful solvent, poor dispersion, dust drift, etc. In recent years, using nanotechnology to create novel formulations has shown great potential in improving the efficacy and safety of pesticides. The development of nano-based pesticide formulation aims at precise release of necessary and sufficient amounts of their active ingredients in responding to environmental triggers and biological demands through controlled release mechanisms. This paper discusses several scientific issues and strategies regarding the development of nano-based pesticide formulations: (i) construction of water-based dispersion pesticide nanoformulation, (ii) mechanism on leaf-targeted deposition and dose transfer of pesticide nanodelivery system, (iii) mechanism on increased bioavailability of nano-based pesticide formulation, and (iv) impacts of nanoformulation on natural degradation and biosafety of pesticide residues.