Fabrication of gelatin microspheres containing ammonium hydrogen carbonate for the tunable release of herbicide.

The major challenge in utilizing pesticides lies in identifying the precise application that would improve the efficiency of these pesticides and decline their environmental and health hazards at the same time. Such application requires the development of specific formulations that enable controlled, stimuli-responsive release of the pesticides. Gelatin is a relatively cheap material characterized by temperature-sensitivity and abundant amino acid groups, which makes it suitable for the storage and controlled release of pesticides. In this study, gelatin microspheres were prepared by emulsion and cross-linking, then they were loaded with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid sodium (2,4-D Na) as a model herbicide. To achieve temperature-tunable release of 2,4-D Na from the microspheres, NH4HCO3 was added to the formulations at different concentrations. The prepared formulations were characterized by SEM, FTIR, and size distribution analyzes, and their drug loading capacities were determined. Based on bioassay experiments, the 2,4-D Na-NH4HCO3-loaded gelatin microspheres can effectively control the spread of dicotyledonous weeds. Therefore, the strategy proposed herein can be used to develop novel, effective herbicide formulations.

The Enhanced and Tunable Sustained Release of Pesticides Using Activated Carbon as a Carrier.

The sustained release of pesticides improves drug utilization efficiency and reduces their adverse effects. Activated carbon (AC) is an excellent adsorbent and promising soil conditioner. It has a rich, porous structure and thus can store and gradually release drugs. In this study, three AC materials with surface areas ranging from 800-2000 m2/g were used and two types of modified activated carbons were prepared, and their capacity as drug carriers was evaluated by using 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid sodium (2,4-D sodium) as the model pesticide. The preparations were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen physical analysis, and zeta potential. The five preparations showed an enhanced and tunable sustained release of drugs. AC1, with the highest specific surface area, possesses the best drug-loading capacity, reaching 679.18 mg/g, but the lowest drug release rate of 32.31% in 96 h. PDA-AC3 has the lowest specific surface area, showing limited drug-loading ability, 82.94 mg/g, but 100% drug release within 72 h. This study suggests that activated carbon has potent applications in agricultural pest control as an inexpensive, effective, controllable, and safe pesticide carrier.