Exploitation of subabul stem lignin as a matrix in controlled release agrochemical nanoformulations: a case study with herbicide diuron.
The utilization of nanomaterials in the domain of agriculture is at an inception, especially in the development of controlled release agrochemical nanoformulations. The present study demonstrated the potential of subabul stem lignin as a matrix material in agrochemical formulations using nanotechnology. In this study, "nanoprecipitation" method was employed and "optimized" to fabricate a stable herbicide, "diuron nanoformulation" (DNF). "Optimized DNF" (ODNF) has 5.17 ± 0.49 % diuron loading efficiency (DLE) and 74.3 ± 4 % encapsulation efficiency (EE). The size of nanoparticles in ODNF was 166 ± 68 nm as revealed by FESEM/TEM studies. Physicochemical characterization of ODNF by UV, FT-IR, and DSC studies revealed the successful loading of diuron within the lignin matrix. The ODNF exhibited nonlinear biphasic release profile for diuron. Further, the bioefficacy of diuron released from ODNF was tested using canola (Brassica rapa). B. rapa seedlings grown in the soil supplemented with ODNF showed early signs of leaf chlorosis and mortality when compared with seedlings grown in the presence of commercial diuron formulation (CDF) or bulk diuron (BD), respectively. This study not only revealed the exploitation of subabul stem lignin as a "matrix" in the controlled release nanoformulation of diuron but also opened up new avenues for utilizing it as matrix for several other agrochemicals associated with the growth and development of the plant.
Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500 046, India.
Srinivasa Rao
SR
Yearla
Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, 500 046, India. kpssl@uohyd.ac.in.
Kollipara
K
Padmasree
D000383:Agriculture; D001937:Brassica; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004237:Diuron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007887:Fabaceae; D006540:Herbicides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006540:Herbicides; D008031:Lignin; D004237:Diuron
Bioefficacy; Brassica rapa; Diuron; Lignin; Nanoparticles; Release kinetics