Nanomaterials

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Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced (nano)materials offer great potential for society and will be a key component of ensuring a sustainable future. These advanced (nano)materials will enable farmers to better target fertilisation and decrease dependency on pesticides, hence avoiding excessive fertilisation and widespread contamination. Recent advances have shown that bio-based nano-encapsulation can support a more targeted fertilisation and pesticide release in both space and time. However, we are still in the beginning of this development, with more new technologies expected and to be implemented.

This Special Issue focuses on advanced (nano)materials that support a sustainable development in agriculture and in food production. Particularly important will be to obtain a mixture of articles with different approaches and materials. We further encourage authors to submit original experiment research, theoretical research, and more opinion-based papers that provide a perspective on where to focus.

Dr. Janeck J. Scott-Fordsmand
Dr. Mónica J. B. Amorim
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

advanced (nano)materials
bio-based
fertilizer
pesticides
sustainability

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1707 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thymol-Nanoparticles as Effective Biocides against the Quarantine Pathogen Xylella fastidiosa

by Francesca Baldassarre, Daniele Schiavi, Serena Ciarroni, Vincenzo Tagliavento, Angelo De Stradis, Viviana Vergaro, Gian Paolo Suranna, Giorgio Mariano Balestra and Giuseppe Ciccarella

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(7), 1285; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13071285 - 06 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1821

Abstract

Quarantine pathogens require the investigation of new tools for effective plant protection. In particular, research on sustainable agrochemicals is the actual challenge. Plant extracts, essential oils, and gels are natural sources of efficient biocides, such as aromatic secondary metabolites. Thymol is the major phenolic constituent of thyme and oregano essential oils, and it can inhibit many pathogenic microbes. Thymol nanoparticles were obtained through adsorption on CaCO₃ nanocrystals, exploiting their carrier action. High loading efficiency and capability were reached as verified through UV and TGA measurements. We report the first study of thymol effect on Xylella fastidiosa, conducing both fluorometric assay and in vitro inhibition assay. The first test confirmed the great antibacterial effect of this compound. Finally, an in vitro test revealed an interesting synergistic action of thymol and nanocarriers, suggesting the potential application of thymol-nanoparticles as effective biocides to control Xylella fastidiosa infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation of Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food Production)

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Review

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22 pages, 1481 KiB

Open AccessReview

Eco-Efficient Systems Based on Nanocarriers for the Controlled Release of Fertilizers and Pesticides: Toward Smart Agriculture

by Paola Fincheira, Nicolas Hoffmann, Gonzalo Tortella, Antonieta Ruiz, Pablo Cornejo, María Cristina Diez, Amedea B. Seabra, Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza and Olga Rubilar

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(13), 1978; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13131978 - 29 Jun 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2544

Abstract

The excessive application of pesticides and fertilizers has generated losses in biological diversity, environmental pollution, and harmful effects on human health. Under this context, nanotechnology constitutes an innovative tool to alleviate these problems. Notably, applying nanocarriers as controlled release systems (CRSs) for agrochemicals can overcome the limitations of conventional products. A CRS for agrochemicals is an eco-friendly strategy for the ecosystem and human health. Nanopesticides based on synthetic and natural polymers, nanoemulsions, lipid nanoparticles, and nanofibers reduce phytopathogens and plant diseases. Nanoproducts designed with an environmentally responsive, controlled release offer great potential to create formulations that respond to specific environmental stimuli. The formulation of nanofertilizers is focused on enhancing the action of nutrients and growth stimulators, which show an improved nutrient release with site-specific action using nanohydroxyapatite, nanoclays, chitosan nanoparticles, mesoporous silica nanoparticles, and amorphous calcium phosphate. However, despite the noticeable results for nanopesticides and nanofertilizers, research still needs to be improved. Here, we review the relevant antecedents in this topic and discuss limitations and future challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation of Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Food Production)

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