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Improved biological effects of uniconazole using porous hollow silica nanoparticles as carriers
Author(s) -
Tan WeiMing,
Hou Ning,
Pang Sen,
Zhu XiaoFeng,
Li ZhaoHu,
Wen LiXiong,
Duan LiuSheng
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.2288
Subject(s) - seedling , nanoparticle , materials science , particle size , porosity , incubation , transplantation , chemistry , horticulture , chemical engineering , composite material , biology , nanotechnology , biochemistry , medicine , surgery , engineering
BACKGROUND: The aim of this work is to prepare a controlled‐release formulation of uniconazole using porous hollow silica nanoparticles (PHSNs) as carrier, and to investigate the biological effects on rice growth. RESULTS: PHSNs with a shell thickness of ∼15 nm and a particle size of 80–100 nm were synthesised through a sol–gel route using nanosized calcium carbonate particles as templates. Simple immersing (SI) and supercritical fluid drug loading (SFDL) technologies were employed to load uniconazole into PHSNs with loading efficiencies of ∼22 and ∼26% respectively. The prepared uniconazole‐loaded PHSNs (UCZ‐PHSNs) by SI and SFDL both demonstrated sustained release properties, and the latter showed better controlled release ability with a slower release rate. Compared with free uniconazole, UCZ‐PHSNs exhibited a weaker growth retardation effect in the early stage but more significant retardation ability in later stages for agar‐cultured rice seedlings. For the rice that grew in clay, UCZ‐PHSNs demonstrated a weaker plant height retardation effect than free uniconazole at the early jointing stage by foliar spraying, but exhibited a stronger retardation capacity than free uniconazole by being applied into soil before seedling transplantation. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the prepared UCZ‐PHSNs possessed good controlled‐release properties and had improved retardation effects on rice growth. It is recommended that UCZ‐PHSNs be applied into soil before seedling transplantation rather than administered by foliar spraying at the early jointing stage. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry