Metal-organic framework for next-generation Nanopesticides: Advancing sustainable crop protection

The development of environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices has intensified the demand for novel pesticide formulations. Conventional pesticides suffer from limitations such as poor stability, low targeting efficiency, and environmental leaching. Nanopesticides, particularly those leveraging metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), have emerged as promising alternatives due to their high loading capacity, tunable porosity, and stimuli-responsive release behavior. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in MOF-based nanopesticides over the past decade, with a focus on four prominent MOF categories: porous coordination networks (PCNs), zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), UiO series, and Materials of Institute Lavoisier (MILs). We highlight their design strategies, controlled-release mechanisms, and performance in managing phytopathogens, pests, and weeds. Moreover, environmental and safety implications are critically assessed, addressing potential risks associated with metal ion release and ecological accumulation. Finally, we discuss existing challenges in scalability, cost, and regulatory frameworks, and propose future research directions aimed at advancing MOF-based nanopesticides toward commercial and sustainable agricultural applications.