Preparation of an Environmentally Friendly Nano-Insecticide through Encapsulation in Polymeric Liposomes and Its Insecticidal Activities against the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Xiuqin Chen; Liangmiao Qiu; Qiquan Liu; Yuxian He

doi:10.3390/insects13070625

Preparation of an Environmentally Friendly Nano-Insecticide through Encapsulation in Polymeric Liposomes and Its Insecticidal Activities against the Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda

Insects. 2022 Jul 13;13(7):625. doi: 10.3390/insects13070625.

Authors

Xiuqin Chen¹, Liangmiao Qiu¹, Qiquan Liu¹, Yuxian He¹

Affiliation

¹ Fujian Key Laboratory for Monitoring and Integrated Management of Crop Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350013, China.

Abstract

The insecticide emamectin benzoate (EB) was formulated with nanoparticles composed of DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀-NH₂ by the co-solvent method to determine its adverse impacts on the environment and to reinforce its dispersion, adhesion, and biocompatibility. A good encapsulation efficiency (70.5 ± 1.5%) of EB loaded in DSPE-PEG₂₀₀₀-NH₂ polymeric liposomes was confirmed. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and contact angle meter measurements revealed that the DSPE-EB nanoparticles had a regular distribution, spherical shape, and good leaf wettability. The contact angle on corn leaves was 47.26°, and the maximum retention was higher than that of the reference product. DSPE-EB nanoparticles had strong adhesion on maize foliage and a good, sustained release property. The efficacy trial showed that the DSPE-EB nanoparticles had a strong control effect on S. frugiperda larvae, with the LC₅₀ of 0.046 mg/L against the third-instar S. furgiperda larve after 48 h treatment. All these results indicate that DSPE-EB nanoparticles can serve as an insecticide carrier with lower environmental impact, sustained release property, and effective control of pests.

Keywords: DSPE-PEG2000-NH2; Spodoptera frugiperda; biodegradable; emamectin benzoate; nanoparticles; sustained release.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (grant number 2021J05088), the Basic Scientific Research Projects of Fujian Provincial Public Welfare Scientific Research Institutes (grant number 2021R1024008), Innovation Team of Crop Pest disaster Mechanism and Green Prevention and control, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (grant number CXTD2021002-1) and Fujian Provincial People’s Government, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural High-quality Development beyond the “5511” collaborative innovation Project (grant number XTCXGC2021017, XTCXGC2021011).