title: Development of chitosan nanocapsules for the controlled release of hexaconazole.
abstract: Accelerated use of pesticides in cutting edge agriculture prompted us to explore smart nanoformulations to subside the consumption of these perilous chemicals. Polymer nanocapsules carrying a fungicide, hexaconazole were developed through ionotropic gelation method utilizing chitosan and tripolyphosphate (TPP). The nanocapsules were characterized by photon correlation spectroscope (PCS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscope. Nanocapsules were optimized for size and high encapsulation efficiency using central composite design (CCD) software. The encapsulation efficiency of nanocapsules for hexaconazole was 73% as assessed by gas chromatography (GC). Nanocapsules were analysed and compared with commercial formulation for controlled release in vitro at three different pH values. Release of hexaconazole from nanocapsules was fastest at pH 4 in comparison to pH 7 and pH 10. Release study in soil was also conducted and revealed a controlled pattern for nanoformulation. The fungicidal activity of the prepared nanoformulation was evaluated against R. solani and was compared with commercial formulation of hexaconazole. The cytotoxicity assay performed on vero cell lines by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay confirmed that nanoformulation is less toxic than commercial formulation of pesticide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Nano Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar 125001, India.
authors.forename: Neetu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Nano Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar 125001, India.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dilbaghi
authors.affiliation: Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110012, India.
authors.forename: Madhuban
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gopal
authors.affiliation: Division of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110012, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-Ro, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kkim61@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Ki-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio and Nano Technology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar 125001, India. Electronic address: ksandeep36@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D014230:Triazoles / Q000737:chemistry*; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D053769:Nanocapsules; D014230:Triazoles; D048271:Chitosan; C409722:hexaconazole
keywords: Chitosan; Controlled release; Fungicide; Hexaconazole; Ionotropic gelation; Nanotechnology