Essential Oils-loaded Bio-nanomaterials for Sustainable Agricultural Applications

Abstract

The excessive and indiscriminate use of synthetic agrochemicals and toxic fumigants has become essential in the maximization of agricultural production worldwide. Despite their beneficial roles in the field and during storage, they produce environmental pollution, increasing pesticide/herbicide resistance and destruction of beneficial insects, and placing the health of producers and consumers at risk. This scenario has enabled the development of new scientific approaches focused on alternatives and ecofriendly and safer forms of pest management including the use of botanical products such as plant extracts and essential oils (EOs) with insecticidal action. The application of EOs for pest control presents several advantages: low toxicity and low persistence; biodegradability; high selectivity; no harmful effects on people or crops; and low environmental impact during and after use. Unfortunately, EOs are biologically unstable since they are easily degraded under the action of pH, oxygen, light and moderate temperatures. Generally, they present low aqueous solubility and high volatility. In this sense, nanotechnology represents a potential solution: the loading of EOs in nanostructured systems. The use of biopolymers as nanocarriers not only provides the controlled release of the active ingredient, but also offers the following benefits: biodegradability, biocompatibility, environmental safety, low toxicity and competitive production costs. This review aims at describing the most recent preparation techniques and characterization based on EO-loaded bio-nanomaterials. Also, this review highlights studies of novel bio-nanoformulations and their potential roles in agricultural practices to promote sustainable and ecofriendly cultivation. Finally, we summarize the commercial challenges and limitations related to these promising bio-nanoformulations.