Natural polymeric nanopesticides optimized with plant-leaf graphene biosensors

Overview

This integrated nanopesticide and biosensor platform addresses two critical challenges in crop protection: efficient, low-cost pesticide delivery and real-time in-field monitoring of pesticide effectiveness. The approach combines natural polymeric nanocarriers made from chitosan and alginate with flexible, conformal graphene biosensors applied directly to crop foliage. Together, these technologies enable controlled pesticide release while providing continuous feedback on pesticide concentration and plant health, reducing reliance on expensive laboratory testing and minimizing environmental contamination.

Technical specifications

Nanopesticide encapsulation:

• Chitosan and alginate nanoparticles encapsulate pesticides for low-cost delivery to crop foliage
• Natural polymer carriers minimize interaction with pesticide application equipment
• Electrostatic interactions promote strong binding to plant foliage
• Controlled release properties reduce field application frequency

Conformal graphene biosensors:

• Laser-induced graphene synthesized on low-cost flexible polymer substrates
• Tunable surface wettability channels pesticides across leaf surfaces to central sensing regions
• Functionalized with biorecognition agents for selective in-field pesticide detection
• Capable of monitoring herbicides such as glyphosate and atrazine
• Capable of monitoring insecticides such as neonicotinoids and organophosphates

Integrated system capabilities:

• Continuous monitoring of nanopesticide loading efficiency and controlled release on plant leaves
• Real-time tracking of pesticide concentrations directly on plant surfaces
• Comparative health analysis of infested versus healthy control plants

Technology readiness level

The platform builds on validated prior work from the research team, including demonstrated chitosan-alginate encapsulation methods for pesticide, fertilizer, and antimicrobial delivery, and established laser-scribed graphene circuit technology on flexible substrates. Future validation will develop a library of nanoparticle-encapsulated pesticides to study structure-function relationships, including nanocarrier size, surface chemistry, foliage attachment, and delivery efficacy. Graphene fluidics and biosensors conformal to plant leaves will be tested on nematode-infested spinach to evaluate nanopesticide treatment effectiveness, with continuous sensor monitoring of release kinetics and plant health outcomes.