Novel pesticides design: co‐encapsulation of citral and cyproconazole for the control of Botrytis cinerea using biocompatible nano‐carriers

Abstract

AbstractBACKGROUNDGrowing concerns about sustainability have driven the search for eco‐friendly pest management solutions. Combining natural and synthetic compounds within controlled release systems is a promising strategy. This study investigated the co‐encapsulation of the natural compound citral (Cit) and the synthetic antifungal cyproconazole (CPZ) using two water‐based nanocarriers: solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs).RESULTSBoth CSNPs and SLNs loaded with Cit + CPZ displayed superior antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea compared to free compounds. Notably, CSNPs with a 2:1 Cit:CPZ ratio exhibited the highest efficacy, achieving a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC100) of < 1.56 μg mL−1, lower than the 12.5 μg mL−1 of non‐encapsulated compounds. This formulation significantly reduced the required synthetic CPZ while maintaining efficacy, highlighting its potential for environmentally friendly pest control.CONCLUSIONThe successful co‐encapsulation of Cit + CPZ within CSNPs, particularly at a 2:1 ratio, demonstrates a promising approach for developing effective and sustainable antifungal formulations against B. cinerea. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.