Nano-Enabled Insecticides for Efficient Pest Management: Definition, Classification, Synergistic Mechanism, and Safety Assessment

The widespread use of pesticides plays a vital role in safeguarding crop yields and ensuring global food security. However, their improper application has led to serious challenges, including environmental pollution, pesticide residues, and increasing insect resistance. Traditional chemical pesticid...

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Main Authors: Ying Wei, Jingyi Chen, Min Dong, Meizhen Yin, Jie Shen, Le Gao, Shuo Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/1050
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author Ying Wei
Jingyi Chen
Min Dong
Meizhen Yin
Jie Shen
Le Gao
Shuo Yan
author_facet Ying Wei
Jingyi Chen
Min Dong
Meizhen Yin
Jie Shen
Le Gao
Shuo Yan
author_sort Ying Wei
collection DOAJ
description The widespread use of pesticides plays a vital role in safeguarding crop yields and ensuring global food security. However, their improper application has led to serious challenges, including environmental pollution, pesticide residues, and increasing insect resistance. Traditional chemical pesticides are no longer sufficient to meet the demands for sustainable modern agriculture. Recent advances in nanotechnology offer innovative strategies for improving pesticide delivery, bioavailability, and selectivity. This review systematically summarizes the current progress in nano-insecticides, including their definitions, classification, preparation techniques, synergistic mechanisms, insecticidal performance, and safety evaluation. In addition, emerging strategies, such as multi-stimuli responsive systems, co-delivery with multiple agents or genetic materials, and integration with biological control, are discussed. Finally, future perspectives are proposed to guide the design/development of intelligent, efficient, and eco-friendly nano-insecticides for sustainable pest management in modern agriculture.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2079-4991
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-c261b29441884a779a8efecfb5636fae2025-08-20T03:50:20ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-07-011513105010.3390/nano15131050Nano-Enabled Insecticides for Efficient Pest Management: Definition, Classification, Synergistic Mechanism, and Safety AssessmentYing Wei0Jingyi Chen1Min Dong2Meizhen Yin3Jie Shen4Le Gao5Shuo Yan6State Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaDepartment of Horticulture, Beijing Vocational College of Agriculture, Beijing 102442, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Agricultural and Forestry Biosecurity, MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, ChinaThe widespread use of pesticides plays a vital role in safeguarding crop yields and ensuring global food security. However, their improper application has led to serious challenges, including environmental pollution, pesticide residues, and increasing insect resistance. Traditional chemical pesticides are no longer sufficient to meet the demands for sustainable modern agriculture. Recent advances in nanotechnology offer innovative strategies for improving pesticide delivery, bioavailability, and selectivity. This review systematically summarizes the current progress in nano-insecticides, including their definitions, classification, preparation techniques, synergistic mechanisms, insecticidal performance, and safety evaluation. In addition, emerging strategies, such as multi-stimuli responsive systems, co-delivery with multiple agents or genetic materials, and integration with biological control, are discussed. Finally, future perspectives are proposed to guide the design/development of intelligent, efficient, and eco-friendly nano-insecticides for sustainable pest management in modern agriculture.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/1050green pest managementnano-insecticidenano-delivery systemsynergistic effectsafety assessment
spellingShingle Ying Wei
Jingyi Chen
Min Dong
Meizhen Yin
Jie Shen
Le Gao
Shuo Yan
Nano-Enabled Insecticides for Efficient Pest Management: Definition, Classification, Synergistic Mechanism, and Safety Assessment
Nanomaterials
green pest management
nano-insecticide
nano-delivery system
synergistic effect
safety assessment
title Nano-Enabled Insecticides for Efficient Pest Management: Definition, Classification, Synergistic Mechanism, and Safety Assessment
title_full Nano-Enabled Insecticides for Efficient Pest Management: Definition, Classification, Synergistic Mechanism, and Safety Assessment
title_fullStr Nano-Enabled Insecticides for Efficient Pest Management: Definition, Classification, Synergistic Mechanism, and Safety Assessment
title_full_unstemmed Nano-Enabled Insecticides for Efficient Pest Management: Definition, Classification, Synergistic Mechanism, and Safety Assessment
title_short Nano-Enabled Insecticides for Efficient Pest Management: Definition, Classification, Synergistic Mechanism, and Safety Assessment
title_sort nano enabled insecticides for efficient pest management definition classification synergistic mechanism and safety assessment
topic green pest management
nano-insecticide
nano-delivery system
synergistic effect
safety assessment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/13/1050
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