Flash nanoprecipitation for herbicide nanocarrier encapsulation in crops
Flash NanoPrecipitation (FNP) technology enables scalable encapsulation of herbicides in organic nanocarriers, enhancing delivery and efficacy in crops. With proven high internalization and translocation rates, this method improves rainfastness and targeted herbicide delivery.
Overview
Flash NanoPrecipitation (FNP) is an innovative platform for encapsulating herbicides within organic nanocarriers (NCs) for use in agricultural applications. This technology harnesses a continuous and scalable process to produce NCs with a 'core-shell' architecture, where the core contains the active herbicide and the biocompatible shell facilitates efficient delivery. FNP's ability to enhance rainfastness and promote targeted translocation of herbicides to plant tissues ensures improved efficacy and reduced environmental impact.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Utilizes low-cost materials such as soy lecithin and fish gelatin.
- Demonstrates high internalization (~80%) into leaf mesophyll.
- Achieves up to 30% translocation to distal tissues.
- Capable of co-encapsulating multiple active agents.
- Proven applicability across various crops including tomatoes, turfgrass, and citrus.
- Supports scalability for large-scale manufacturing.
Functionality:
- Tunable release rates of bioactive compounds.
- Enhances rainfastness and translocation efficacy.
- Provides detailed process sharing for further optimization.
Technology readiness level
The technology is currently at TRL 4, indicating a validated laboratory prototype. Future steps involve optimizing formulations and confirming performance through bioassays, which are essential for advancing to higher readiness levels. Ongoing collaborations aim to ensure scalability and efficacy in diverse agricultural settings.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research institution in West Lafayette, Indiana, anchored by a large residential campus. Industry engages through co‑located core facilities, pilot‑scale testbeds, and an adjacent innovation district that brings together labs, corporate R&D space, and maker resources near faculty talent. A statewide Extension network and an established engineering co‑op program connect companies to field sites, workforce pipelines, and pragmatic pathways from concept to deployment across Indiana. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from NSF, DOE, USDA, NIH, and the Department of Defense, and commercialization is managed by a dedicated technology transfer office in partnership with the university’s affiliated research foundation.
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