Sep 03, 2025

Nanotech pesticide mimics wasps to protect crops and reduce pollution

Researchers developed a nanotech pesticide that delivers rapid and long-term protection, boosts plant health, and reduces risks to the environment.

(Nanowerk News) Farmers worldwide rely on pesticides to protect crops, but conventional products pose a persistent problem. They break down quickly, wash away in rain, and often require repeated applications. That leads to higher costs, wasted chemicals, and ecological damage. Developing entirely new pesticides is expensive and slow, but redesigning how existing ingredients are delivered offers a faster, safer alternative.

Researchers at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have created a nanotechnology-based solution that could change the way pesticides work in the field. Their team, led by Wu Zhengyan and Zhang Jia, designed a bioinspired nanohybrid system called PAPP, reported in the Journal of Controlled Release ("Bioinspired prussian blue nanopesticides with triple-stimuli-responsive gates for ecology-adaptive pest management").

Schematic illustration of fabrication and mechanism of bioinspired prussian blue nanopesticides. (Image: TENG Guopeng). (click on image to enlarge)

The design borrows from the natural pest-control strategy of parasitoid wasps, which use both immediate and delayed attacks on their hosts. Similarly, PAPP can release pesticides in two phases. Its prussian blue nanoparticles dissolve in alkaline conditions, unleashing a rapid burst of pesticide to fight sudden infestations. At the same time, its hydrogel shell—made from a temperature- and light-sensitive polymer—allows for slow, controlled release when triggered by heat or near-infrared light.

This two-step approach ensures both quick protection and long-term pest management across an entire growing season. Laboratory and simulation tests showed strong activity against the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), a major agricultural pest, while limiting harm to crops, fish, and pollinators. The formulation also proved highly stable, resisting UV light and sticking well to leaves.

Beyond pest control, the system offers an added ecological benefit. As the prussian blue core breaks down, it releases iron ions that act as micronutrients, giving plants a nutritional boost.

The study points to a practical path for making nanopesticides both more effective and less harmful to the environment. By adapting a natural strategy at the nanoscale, the researchers have opened the door to smarter, more sustainable agriculture.

Source: Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (Note: Content may be edited for style and length)