PDA@Ti3C2Tx as a novel carrier for pesticide delivery and its application in plant protection: NIR-responsive controlled release and sustained antipest activity

BACKGROUND Stimuli-responsive pesticide controlled release system provides a new strategy for the development of high-efficiency pesticides formulation. RESULTS In this article, we report a novel polydopamine surface modified MXene-Ti3C2Tx nanocarrier for pesticide delivery and plant protection. Polydopamine modified Ti3C2Tx (PDA@Ti3C2Tx) nanocarrier was prepared by biomimetic self-polymerization of dopamine on the surface of Ti3C2Tx. A typical pesticide, emamectin benzoate (EB), was loaded on PDA@Ti3C2Tx through physisorption process, with a high pesticide loading rate of 45.37%. PDA@Ti3C2Tx exhibited excellent photothermal conversion effect (eta = 34.5%). Under the irradiation of near-infrared (NIR) laser, EB would sustained release from PDA@Ti3C2Tx nanocarrier to surrounding medium. Compared with free EB, EB@PDA@Ti3C2Tx exhibited prolonged persistence period, which can keep antipest activity at 14 days post spraying. In addition, PDA@Ti3C2Tx nanocarrier and EB@PDA@Ti3C2Tx nanoformulation are of good safety, showing no side effect to the seed germination and seedling growth. CONCLUSION This research developed a novel nanocarrier for water-insoluble pesticide delivery, realizing NIR-responsive controlled release and sustained antipest activity.