IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-57028-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainable pest management using plant secondary metabolites regulated azadirachtin nano-assemblies

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaohong Zhang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Jianhua Xiao

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Yuqi Huang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Yulu Liu

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Gaohua Hu

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Weiyao Yan

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Guangyao Yan

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Qing Guo

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Jiawei Shi

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Ruyue Han

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Jianqiang Li

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Gang Tang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Yongsong Cao

    (China Agricultural University)

Abstract

Biopesticides have emerged as a global trend to minimize the risks associated with synthetic agrochemicals. However, their stability and efficacies remain challenges for widespread application. Herein, co-assembled nanoparticles (AT NPs or AP NPs) based on azadirachtin (AZA) and tannic acid (TA) or phenylalanine (PA) are constructed in aqueous solution through self-assembly technology. The small particle size, low PDI, high ζ-potential, and related other physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles can improve wettability, adhesiveness, rain erosion resistance, and photostability compared to the commercial AZA formulation. Importantly, co-assemblies with bidirectional pH-responsive disassembly in acidic or alkaline solutions, allow them to respond to microenvironmental stimuli of targets and enable controlled release of AZA. The nanosystems demonstrated remarkable in vitro and in vivo insecticidal activities against Ostrinia furnacalis and Aphis gossypii. This study illustrates a distinctive perspective for developing eco-friendly nanosystems, highlighting a water-based treatment method for biopesticides with improved physicochemical properties and utilization efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaohong Zhang & Jianhua Xiao & Yuqi Huang & Yulu Liu & Gaohua Hu & Weiyao Yan & Guangyao Yan & Qing Guo & Jiawei Shi & Ruyue Han & Jianqiang Li & Gang Tang & Yongsong Cao, 2025. "Sustainable pest management using plant secondary metabolites regulated azadirachtin nano-assemblies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57028-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57028-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57028-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-57028-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jie Tang & Xiaojing Tong & Yongjun Chen & Yue Wu & Zhiyuan Zheng & A. Basak Kayitmazer & Ayyaz Ahmad & Naveed Ramzan & Jintao Yang & Qingchun Huang & Yisheng Xu, 2023. "Deposition and water repelling of temperature-responsive nanopesticides on leaves," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Hui Sheng & Congcong Ai & Cancan Yang & Chunyuan Zhu & Zhe Meng & Fengzhi Wu & Xiaodan Wang & Daolong Dou & Paul F. Morris & Xiuguo Zhang, 2024. "A conserved oomycete effector RxLR23 triggers plant defense responses by targeting ERD15La to release NbNAC68," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Cheng Gao & Qiaoxian Huang & Qingping Lan & Yu Feng & Fan Tang & Maggie P. M. Hoi & Jianxiang Zhang & Simon M. Y. Lee & Ruibing Wang, 2018. "A user-friendly herbicide derived from photo-responsive supramolecular vesicles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Sam J. Parkinson & Sireethorn Tungsirisurp & Chitra Joshi & Bethany L. Richmond & Miriam L. Gifford & Amrita Sikder & Iseult Lynch & Rachel K. O’Reilly & Richard M. Napier, 2022. "Polymer nanoparticles pass the plant interface," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sandeep Sharma & Thomas M. Perring & Su-Ji Jeon & Huazhang Huang & Wen Xu & Emir Islamovic & Bhaskar Sharma & Ysabel Milton Giraldo & Juan Pablo Giraldo, 2024. "Nanocarrier mediated delivery of insecticides into tarsi enhances stink bug mortality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-57028-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.