Carbon Nanohorns and Polydopamine as Eco-Friendly Pesticide Carriers: Nanoencapsulation Based on Thiazoleamide Derivatives and Synergistic Antifungal Effects

In this study, a nanodelivery system (CNH-Q7-PDA) based on van der Waals force-driven self-assembly was developed, where carbon nanohorns (CNH) adsorbed Q7 and were encapsulated by polydopamine (PDA) to enhance pesticide application efficiency. Simulated rainfall washoff experiments demonstrated that the incorporation of PDA significantly reduced the rolling and bouncing of carriers on plant leaves, effectively improving the deposition and retention rates of pesticides on the leaves. Meanwhile, in vitro antifungal experiments revealed that CNH-Q7-PDA exhibited superior fungicidal activity compared to Q7 and CNH-Q7. By disrupting mycelial morphology and inhibiting mycelial growth, CNH-Q7-PDA reduced the pathogenicity and reinfection potential of the pathogens, significantly enhancing the bioactivity of Q7. Further the greenhouse test revealed that CNH-Q7-PDA was more effective than Q7 in the treatment and control of tomato fruits and leaves, with control effects of 47.1 and 49.7%, respectively. This study presents a self-assembled carrier system with the potential to enhance small molecule activity, improve pesticide leaf retention and utilization, and serve as an efficient nano delivery system for smart pesticide release in plants.