Biomimetic materials for sustainable microbial pesticide formulations

Microbial pesticides offer a sustainable alternative for crop protection due to their target specificity, low resistance risk, and environmental compatibility. However, their practical application is hindered by poor environmental tolerance to ultraviolet radiation, high temperature, and desiccation, as well as short shelf life and inadequate foliar retention. Traditional formulations such as wettable powders and suspension concentrates often provide limited protection or controlled release. Biomimetic materials inspired by natural structures including biofilms, plant cell walls, and mussel adhesive proteins have been developed to address these bottlenecks. This review introduces the design principles, carrier types (polysaccharides, proteins, synthetic polymers, and biomineralized frameworks such as metal-organic frameworks), and preparation strategies of biomimetic systems for microbial pesticides. These materials enhance resistance to environmental stresses, enable stimuli-responsive controlled release triggered by pH or pathogen secreted enzymes, improve adhesion and colonization on hydrophobic crop surfaces, and extend storage stability. This review also discusses safety concerns, including toxicological evaluation, environmental fate, ecological risks, and impacts on non-target organisms, and provides a thorough analysis of current challenges related to cost effective production, scalability, and the lack of standardized safety assessment frameworks. Future research should urgently focus on biodegradable, biocompatible, and intelligently responsive biomimetic carriers; systematically evaluate the long-term degradation behavior and fate of biomimetic carriers in real agricultural environments; and establish scalable evaluation indicator systems for industrial production, thereby bridging the gap between laboratory research and field applications.