A biocide delivery system composed of nanosilica loaded with neem oil is effective in reducing plant toxicity of this biocide.

Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) 2022 Feb 01

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One possible way to reduce the environmental impacts of pesticides is by nanostructuring biocides in nanocarriers because this promotes high and localized biocidal activity and can avoid toxicity to non-target organisms. Neem oil (NO) is a natural pesticide with toxicity concerns to plants, fish, and other organisms. Thus, loading NO in a safe nanocarrier can contribute to minimizing its toxicity. For this study, we have characterized the integrity of a nanosilica-neem oil-based biocide delivery system (SiO2NP#NO BDS) and evaluated its effectiveness in reducing NO toxicity by the Allium cepa test. NO, mainly consisted of unsaturated fatty acids, was well binded to the SiO2NP with BTCA crosslinker. Overall, this material presented all of its pores filled with the NO with fatty acid groups at both the surface and bulk level of the nanoparticle. The thermal stability of NO was enhanced after synthesis, and the NO was released as zero-order model with a total of 20 days without burst release. The SiO2NP#NO BDS was effective in reducing the individual toxicity of NO to the plant system. NO in single form inhibited the seed germination of A. cepa (EC50 of 0.38 g L-1), and the effect was no longer observed at the BDS condition. Contrarily to the literature, the tested NO did not present cyto- and geno-toxic effects in A. cepa, which may relate to the concentration level and composition. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Citation

Gabriel Goetten de Lima, Tainá Wilke Sivek, Mailson Matos, Emanoela Lundgren Thá, Ketelen Michele Guilherme de Oliveira, Irisdoris Rodrigues de Souza, Tielidy Angelina de Morais de Lima, Marta Margarete Cestari, Washington Luiz Esteves Magalhães, Fabrício Augusto Hansel, Daniela Morais Leme. A biocide delivery system composed of nanosilica loaded with neem oil is effective in reducing plant toxicity of this biocide. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987). 2022 Feb 01;294:118660