A Systematic Review on Pesticide-loaded Nanocapsules: A Sustainable Route for Pesticide Management to Enhance Crop Productivity

Abstract: Synthetic pesticides, crucial compounds for agricultural production, degrade quickly and damage the environment, hence solutions for their decreased usage or formulations with prolonged efficacy at low dosages are needed. Nanotechnology for nanosized formulations may reduce pesticide adverse effects. Nano-encapsulated pesticides made from nanocapsules, nanoemulsions, micelles, and nanogels outperform traditional pesticides with minimum environmental impact. Nanopesticides allowed target-based administration to decrease leaching and drainage into water bodies, and lower pesticide active component dosages. Nanocapsules with a core-shell configuration and a pesticide in the core are the most advantageous nanomaterials. Nanocapsules shield the active component. Stimuli-responsive nanocapsules may limit pesticide release by responding to pH, temperature, light, enzyme, or redox reactions. Toxicity prevents their use. This review discusses the latest developments in nanocapsule fabrication methods, their relevance, contemporary synthetic approaches to developing pesticide-loaded nanocapsules, and the features of these nanocomposites, with an emphasis on sustainable agricultural applications.