Comparing the antibacterial activity of chitin nanocrystals with chitin: exploring the feasibility of chitin nanocrystals as novel pesticide nanocarriers in agriculture

Abstract BACKGROUND In recent years, nanomaterials‐based pesticide carriers have garnered significant attention and sparked extensive research. However, most studies have primarily focused on investigating the impact of physical properties of nanomaterials, such as size and modifiable sites, on drug delivery efficiency of nano‐pesticides. The limited exploration of biologically active nanomaterials poses a significant obstacle to the advancement and widespread adoption of nano‐pesticides. In this study, we prepared chitin nanocrystals (ChNC) based on acid hydrolysis and systematically investigated the differences between nano‐ and normal chitin against plant bacteria ( Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci ). The primary objective was to seek out nanocarriers with heightened biological activity for the synthesis of nano‐pesticides. RESULTS Zeta potential analysis, Fourier Transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X‐Ray diffraction (XRD), Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) identified the successful synthesis of ChNC. ChNC showcased remarkable bactericidal activity at comparable concentrations, surpassing that of chitin, particularly in its ability to inhibit bacterial biofilm formation. Furthermore, ChNC displayed heightened effectiveness in disrupting bacterial cell membranes, resulting in the leakage of bacterial cell contents, structural DNA damage, and impairment of DNA replication. Lastly, potting experiments revealed that ChNC is notably more effective in inhibiting the spread and propagation of bacteria on plant leaves. CONCLUSION ChNC exhibited higher antibacterial activity compared to chitin, enabling efficient control of plant bacterial diseases through enhanced interaction with bacteria. These findings offer compelling evidence of ChNC's superior bacterial inhibition capabilities, underscoring its potential as a promising nanocarrier for nano‐pesticide research. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.