The team led by Professor Wang Qingmin from the College of Chemistry of Nankai University published a paper entitled “Facilely construct of GSH-responsive nanogel by photocrosslinking based on a new multi-functional emulsify-crosslinking agent for comprehensively improved utilization rate of pesticides” in Chemical Engineering Journal. In this study, a multi-functional nanogel was efficiently constructed for the first time through photocrosslinking without the addition of any chemical reagents. It realized the precise release of pesticides and also had high adhesion of leaves and excellent photodegradation resistance. This significantly improved the utilization of pesticides and as a result reduced the harm to the ecological environment. 

Schematic diagram of nanogel preparation and application

In this study, lipoic acid was introduced into surfactants to prepare a multifunctional emulsify-crosslinking agent (PFTA) with surface activity and crosslinking properties, and a nanogel with a three-dimensional network structure was constructed through photocrosslinking for the first time. Due to the three-dimensional network structure, the nanogel has an obvious slow-release performance, which is conducive to long-term control of pests and diseases. The three-dimensional network structure composed of disulfide bonds gives nanogels responsiveness to glutathione to realize the precise release of pesticides. Furthermore, the nanogel effectively improves the spread performance and rain wash resistance of the liquid pesticides on the leaf surface, as well as the photodegradation resistance of the photo-unstable drug, thereby improving the utilization of pesticides. The new strategy put forward by the research team for the preparation of nano-pesticides has opened up a new avenue for the green and low-carbon development of nano-pesticides.

Prof. Wang Qingmin, Associate Researcher Song Hongjian of the College of Chemistry of Nankai University, and Associate Professor Zhang Jingjing of Tianjin Agricultural University are the co-corresponding authors of the paper. Xu Xinxin, a Master’s degree student studying at the College of Chemistry of Nankai University, is the first author of the paper.

Link:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.150061

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)