article · Advanced Science
Mancozeb is a common agricultural fungicide, but its practical use is restricted by rapid breakdown under sunlight, poor adhesion to leaves, and toxicity to non-target organisms. To address these problems, a nano-pesticide formulation termed MCB@URFSL was developed by combining modified Pluronic polymer and lignosulfonate into uniform 180-nanometre particles. The formulation provides ultraviolet shielding, allowing mancozeb to retain over 60 percent of its antifungal activity after five days of UVA exposure. It also improves adhesion and rainfastness on tomato leaves and releases the active fungicide in response to the fungal enzyme laccase. In laboratory and seedling trials using cucumbers, the formulation demonstrated superior protective and curative antifungal efficacy. Furthermore, the carrier markedly reduced toxic effects on human skin cells, bacteria, and zebrafish, showing no acute mortality at tested concentrations.
Fungicides are vital for global food production, but conventional sprays often degrade rapidly in sunlight, wash off in the rain, or harm non-target wildlife. Developing smart delivery systems that shield agrochemicals from light and release them selectively when pathogens strike can reduce chemical run-off, improve disease management, and lower environmental and health hazards in agricultural areas.
This technology is relevant to agrochemical manufacturers and crop-protection formulators seeking safer, more durable alternatives to conventional fungicides. The system has been validated through laboratory bioassays and plant trials on tomato leaves and cucumber seedlings, placing it at an applied and tested stage of development. Real-world commercialisation will require larger field trials to confirm efficacy across varied climates, as well as scalable manufacturing processes and formal regulatory approvals.
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Fungicides are a crucial tool for protecting crops and ensuring consistent food supply. As a fundamental and widely-used fungicide in global agriculture, mancozeb (MCB) suffers from rapid photodegradation, poor foliar adhesion, and substantial non-target toxicity, limiting its efficacy and environmental compatibility. To address these issues, we developed a sunscreen-inspired nano-pesticide, MCB@URFSL, designed to enhance MCB's photostability, rainfastness, and targeted delivery. This system was fabricated via the co-assembly of phthalate-modified Pluronic F127 (URF) and lignosulfonate (SL), yielding monodisperse nanoparticles (∼180 nm) with integrated UV-shielding, laccase-responsive, and pathogen-targeting properties. The strategy significantly improved MCB's photostability, retaining over 60% of antifungal activity after 5 days of UVA exposure. MCB@URFSL exhibited enhanced leaf adhesion and rainfastness on tomato leaves, along with laccase-triggered release. In vitro and in vivo bioassays confirmed its superior protective and curative efficacy against fungal infections in cucumber seedlings. Importantly, the nanocarrier significantly reduced MCB's toxicity toward human keratinocytes, Escherichia coli, and zebrafish, with no acute mortality observed even at a concentration of 50 µg/mL. This work presents an intelligent nano-pesticide strategy that synergistically enhances fungicidal efficacy and ecological safety, thereby establishing a promising platform for pioneering the next generation of agrochemicals.
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DOI: 10.1002/advs.77197
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