Francesco Corrias1, Anna Melis1, Alessandro Atzei1, Salvatore Marceddu2, Fabrizio Dedola3, Antonella Sirigu3, Rosa Pireddu1, Francesco Lai1, Alberto Angioni1. 1. Department of Life and Environmental Science, Food Toxicology Unit, University of Cagliari, University Campus of Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy. 2. Institute of Sciences of Food Production (ISPA-CNR), Baldinca (Sassari), Italy. 3. Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia (AGRIS), Service of Environmental Studies, Crop Protection and Production Quality, Cagliari, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low water solubility of pesticide requires formulations with high levels of stabilizers and organic solvents. Moreover, only 0.1% of the applied pesticides formulation reaches the target, while 99.9% spreads in the surrounding environment. Therefore, there is the need for more efficient and environmentally sustainable alternatives. RESULTS: Zoxamide (ZO) nanosuspension was prepared through a media milling technique by using the stabilizer polysorbate 80. The thin and acicular crystals obtained, showed particle size of 227 nm, polydispersion index of 0.247 and zeta potential of -28 mV. Dimensional data and morphology of ZO nanocrystals alone, on tomato leaves and berries, were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The reduction in size for ZO crystals obtained after the milling process increased pesticide water solubility till 39.6 mg L-1 , about 1.6 the solubility obtained with a conventional commercial formulation. Field and dip contamination trials performed on tomato plants showed the nanosuspension's ability to increase ZO deposition and accumulation versus a coarse ZO suspension and commercial formulation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The nanoformulation proposed, resulted in low cost and was easy to make. Moreover, the organic solvent-free composition together with a low surfactant addition assured a minor environmental impact. Finally, the increased retention and deposition of the fungicide can reduce the amounts of ZO formulation applied to tomatoes.
BACKGROUND: Low water solubility of pesticide requires formulations with high levels of stabilizers and organic solvents. Moreover, only 0.1% of the applied pesticides formulation reaches the target, while 99.9% spreads in the surrounding environment. Therefore, there is the need for more efficient and environmentally sustainable alternatives. RESULTS:Zoxamide (ZO) nanosuspension was prepared through a media milling technique by using the stabilizer polysorbate 80. The thin and acicular crystals obtained, showed particle size of 227 nm, polydispersion index of 0.247 and zeta potential of -28 mV. Dimensional data and morphology of ZO nanocrystals alone, on tomato leaves and berries, were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The reduction in size for ZO crystals obtained after the milling process increased pesticide water solubility till 39.6 mg L-1 , about 1.6 the solubility obtained with a conventional commercial formulation. Field and dip contamination trials performed on tomato plants showed the nanosuspension's ability to increase ZO deposition and accumulation versus a coarse ZO suspension and commercial formulation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The nanoformulation proposed, resulted in low cost and was easy to make. Moreover, the organic solvent-free composition together with a low surfactant addition assured a minor environmental impact. Finally, the increased retention and deposition of the fungicide can reduce the amounts of ZO formulation applied to tomatoes.
Authors: Ana Sofía Lemus de la Cruz; Josefina Barrera-Cortés; Laura Patricia Lina-García; Ana C Ramos-Valdivia; Rosa Santillán Journal: Molecules Date: 2022-05-06 Impact factor: 4.411