Designing new sustainable nanoformulations for plants and agriculture

Environment protection is a major issue for sustainability and can be promoted by administering beneficial compounds to plants and soil. Most bioactive molecules are poorly soluble in water and need hydrophilic carriers to be assimilated1. Nanovectors ensure optimal performance with minimal quantities due to high surface/volume ratio. In the most promising formulations the carriers are also derived from natural sources. In these systems the structure-function is complicate, stemming from the subtle balance of many contributions. Here we propose to study the structure of new nanoformulations prepared from agricultural wastes (OP) or algae (EPS). Both components were mixed with the helper lipid egg-yolk phosphocholine to impart amphiphilic character for self-assembly and structural versatility at the nanoscale. The nanocarriers were used to deliver hydroxytyrosol, neem and 3-omega oils to plants and insects. The aims were either to reinforce their health or counteract natural enemies.