Tunable Morphological Engineering of Self-Assembled Copper-Glutathione Nanoarchitectures: Size-Dependent...

The urgent need for sustainable agrochemicals motivates intelligent nanoagrochemical development. This study addresses the challenges in size control of nanomaterials by fabricating size-tunable Cu-GSH nanocapsules (CG) via a cost-effective co-precipitation method using copper-based nanoparticles and glutathione (GSH). In in vivo experiments on kiwifruit, the optimized CG achieved 77% therapeutic efficacy and 66% protective efficacy-surpassing conventional copper nanoparticles and thiodiazole copper (54%)-while reducing toxicity. Morphology dictates function: smaller spheres (e.g., Cu₄(OH)₆Cl₂/GSH, 77%) enabled plant-internal therapy, while sheet-like structures (e.g., Cu₃(PO₄)₂, 63%) enhanced surface protection. Size refinement within spherical variants boosted therapeutic activity by 1.19-fold over larger counterparts. Enhanced antibacterial effects arose from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated membrane damage via engineered structures. CG's tunable cavity further allows pesticide encapsulation or multifunctional composite formation, expanding sustainable disease management applications. This work demonstrates that morphological/dimensional control critically balances pesticide performance, environmental safety, and versatility, establishing a size-dependent design framework for high-efficacy, eco-friendly nanopesticides.