Fabrication of a dual pH-responsive and photothermal microcapsule pesticide delivery system for controlled release of pesticides

BACKGROUND The development of stimulus-responsive and photothermally controlled-release microcapsule pesticide delivery systems is a promising solution to enhance the effective utilization and minimize the excessive use of pesticides in agriculture. RESULTS In this study, an AVM@CS@TA-Fe microcapsule pesticide delivery system was developed using avermectin as the model drug, chitosan and tannic acid as the wall materials, and tannic acid-Fe complex layer as the photothermal agent. The optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscope were used to characterize the prepared microcapsule. The slow-release, UV-shielding, photothermal performance, and nematicidal activity of the microcapsule were systematically investigated. The results showed that the system exhibited excellent pH-responsive and photothermal-sensitive performances. In addition, the UV-shielding performance of the delivery system was improved. The photothermal conversion efficiency (eta) of the system under the irradiation of near-infrared (NIR) light was determined to be 14.18%. Moreover, the nematicidal activities of the system against pine wood nematode and Aphelenchoides besseyi were greatly increased under the irradiation of light-emitting diode (LED) simulated sunlight. CONCLUSION The release of the pesticide-active substances in such a pesticide delivery system could be effectively regulated with the irradiation of NIR light or LED-simulated sunlight. Thus, the developed pesticide delivery system may have broad application prospects in modern agriculture fields. (c) 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Automated summary

The development of a photothermally controlled-release microcapsule pesticide delivery system using avermectin as the model drug was investigated. The system demonstrated excellent pH-responsive and photothermal-sensitive performances and improved UV-shielding capability. The release of pesticide-active substances could be regulated by near-infrared light or LED-simulated sunlight, resulting in enhanced nematicidal activity.