Porous Silica Nanoparticles for Pesticide Delivery [1]

EM of mesoporous silica nanoparticle [2] (Dr. Victor Lin group/Iowa State

University - Courtesey of Dr Victor Lin group at Iowa State University).

Nearly 10,000 of the 500,000 green leaf-eating insect species are plague species,
responsible for the loss of 14-25% of total global agricultural production. Insecticides,
chemicals used to alter the metabolism of insects to stop their lifecycle or reproduction,
have been used since the 16th century to combat crop destruction, but due to
environmental degradation of the chemicals, the quantities in which insecticides
must now be used to be effective pose a significant threat to human health [3]. As a
result of leaching, UV degradation, and hydrolysis, as much as 90% of applied
agrochemicals are ineffective, requiring repeated application of the insecticides
which in turn leads to developed insect resistance and elimination of the pest’s
natural predators [1]. Controlled-release formulations (CRFs) would improve the
efficacy of pesticides [4] by ensuring the active compounds are released only at the
target site via the regulation of an inert material. One such CRF solution is the use
of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles [5] (MSNs) to deliver insecticides [2]. MSNs are
made by reacting tetraethyl orthosilicate on a template of micellar rods to form
porous nanoparticles [6] [3]. The pores are then injected with the desired active
compound and covalently capped with gold nanoparticles [7] (AuNPs), which will
release the insecticide when the AuNPs come in contact with a chemical uncapping
trigger, such as the alkaline solution of an insect’s stomach. The high surface area to
volume ratio created by the nanoparticle [2] structure makes MSNs effective
delivery carriers, and the size-adjustable 3D open pore structure allows for a
regulated adsorption rate [4]. Coating [8] MSNs with additional polymers can also
regulate drug release by allowing for a constant release rate caused by the steady
degradation of the polymer, as opposed to a single burst of chemicals caused by the
breaking of covalent bonds [5]. By decreasing the amount of pesticide used, MSNs also
decrease costs to farmers by limiting re-application of expensive chemicals, protect the
environment and untargeted organisms, and reduce human pesticide exposure and
poisonings [1]. While technological advances in crop preservation are important to
reduce agricultural loss, it is equally important to acknowledge all contributing factors to
persistent world hunger. Despite the fact that enough food is produced to feed the global
population [6], nearly 870 million people still suffer from hunger due to inadequate
distribution [9] [6]. To solve the problem of global hunger issues such as inadequate food
transportation [10], food waste (1.3 billion tons), and unaffordable food costs must also
be addressed to reach a holistic solution [7].

References

1. Perlatti, Bruno, Patricia Luisa De Souza Bergo, Maria Fatima Das Gracas
Fernandes Da Silva, Joao Batista, and Moacir Rossi. "Polymeric Nanoparticle [2]-
Based Insecticides: A Controlled Release Purpose for Agrochemicals."
Insecticides - Development of Safer and More Effective Technologies (2013): n.
pag.
2. Torney, François, Brian G. Trewyn, Victor S.-Y. Lin, and Kan Wang.
"Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles [5] Deliver DNA and Chemicals into
Plants." Nature Nanotech Nature Nanotechnology 2.5 (2007): 295-300.
3. Trewyn, Brian G; Nieweg, Jennifer A; Zhao, Yannan; Lin, Victor S.-Y. (2007).
"Biocompatible mesoporous silica nanoparticles [5] with different morphologies
for animal cell membrane penetration". Chemical Engineering Journal 137 (1):
23–29. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2007.09.045.
4. Pérez-De-Luque, Alejandro, and Diego Rubiales. "Nanotechnology for Parasitic
Plant Control." Pest. Manag. Sci. Pest Management Science 65.5 (2009): 540-45.
5. Popat, Amirali, Jian Liu, Qiuhong Hu, Michael Kennedy, Brenton Peters, Gao
Qing (Max) Lu, and Shi Zhang Qiao. "Adsorption and Release of Biocides with
Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles [5]." Nanoscale 4.3 (2012): 970-75.
6. Leathers, Howard D., and Phillips Foster. The World Food Problem: Toward
Ending Undernutrition in the Third World. Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 2009. Print.
p. 133
7. "What Causes Hunger? | WFP | United Nations World Food Programme - Fighting
Hunger Worldwide." World Food Programme, n.d. Web. 28 June 2016.
8. Fruijtier-Pölloth, Claudia. "The Toxicological Mode of Action and the Safety of
Synthetic Amorphous Silica—A Nanostructured Material." Toxicology 294.2-3
(2012): 61-79.
9. Slivka, Jeff. "Silica-The Next Environmental Issue." International Risk
Management Institute, Apr. 2005. Web. 28 June 2016.