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Synthesis and characterization of silica nanostructures for cotton leaf worm control

Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry volume 7, pages 91–100 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Herein, silica nanostructures with various physicochemical characteristics were synthesized via surfactant-assisted methods. Potent entomotoxic effects of silica nanostructures were explored against cotton leaf worm (Spodoptera littoralis) for the first time by utilizing surface contact and feeding bioassay protocols. The mortality of the treated larvaes by surface contact was faster than feeding bioassay method. The results showed that the surface characteristics and particle size of silica nanostructures could effectively control their entomotoxic effects compared to commercial silica or even organic pesticides. It was also observed that the dead bodies of the insects became extremely dehydrated due to the damage of insect cuticular water barrier as a result of abrasion. Furthermore, the physical mode of action of silica nanostructures makes insects is unlikely to become physiologically resistant; hence, silica nanostructures can be efficiently used as a valuable tool in S. littoralis management programs.

Introduction

Nanomaterial research was prompted recently to develop novel nano-technological products, processes, and applications that promise special merits for saving human health and environment. The sustainable potentials of nanotechnology are oriented to save of raw materials, energy and water as well as reduce greenhouse gases and hazardous wastes to improve the future. As a result, the application of nanomaterials in the area of plant sciences (i.e., nutrients and/or pest control) has been extensively investigated to overcome the expected increases of global population without negative impacts to environment and/or public health [1,2,3]. For example, Ag, CuO, MgO, and ZnO nanoparticles were presented as effective antimicrobial agents [4,5,6,7,8]. Amorphous silica nanoparticle (SiO2 NPs) showed biological entomotoxic effects, although it is inert in nature and considered as a biocompatible material according to US Food and Drug Administration [9]. To the best of our knowledge, few papers have been reported to utilize such inorganic NPs alone and/or combined with organic ingredient for plant protection. Therefore, it is meaningful to investigate the pesticidal behaviors of the inorganic NPs or their formulations to reduce harmful organic pesticide usage, enhance durability and efficiency as well as overcome the physiological resistance of the pests [10,11,12,13].

Mesoporous metal oxides in nanometer scale have received much attention in the field of research because of their unique physical and chemical properties in terms of large surface areas, hydrothermal stability in organic and inorganic solution phases, and reduced densities [14, 15]. Therefore, several of mesoporous metal oxide nanoparticles have been recently synthesized with controlled compositions, structures, and morphologies due to their composition-, structure-, and morphology-dependent properties and applications [16,17,18]. Among various metal oxides, mesoporous silica nanostructures were extensively studied for their scientific and technological interests including separations, catalysis, sensing, and drug delivery [19,20,21,22]. Different mesoporous nanostructures, monoliths, fibers, spheres, tubes, thin films, and ellipse, were synthesized by utilizing organic/inorganic synthetic chemistry [20,21,22,23,24,25]. However, considerable efforts have been devoted to control the intrinsic features and enable specific functionality which is selected to align with targeted applications. Despite this significant progress, most of the synthesis procedures are too delicate which render them less viable for large-scale industrial applications.

Spodoptera littoralis is considered as one of the most serious and destructive pest not only for cotton plant, but also for other vegetable, ornamental, and field crops in Egypt. Previously, we have investigated the effect of commercial SiO2 on the second larval instar of S. littoralis. However, the key factors that control SiO2 nanostructure entomotoxic efficiency were not recognized yet [12, 13]. In the present study, SiO2 nanostructures with various shapes and sizes have been synthesized by utilizing surfactant-assisted methods [26]. Triton X100 (TX-100), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) have been used as soft template. The entomotoxic effects of SiO2 nanostructures against S. littoralis are investigated by applying surface contact and feeding bioassay methods. Importantly, the synthesis conditions of SiO2 nanostructures are played significant role not only for control their physical properties, but also revealed variable entomotoxic effects against S. littoralis. The synthesized SiO2 nanostructures showed promising inorganic-based pesticide in S. littoralis management programs compared to commercial SiO2 materials.

Experimental section

Chemicals

All chemicals were used as received without further purification. Tetra methylorthosilicate (TMOS; 98%), ethanol; 96%, ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH; 28%), triton X100 (TX-100), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were obtained from Sigma–Aldrich Company LTD. Silica precipitated (SiO2) was purchased from Fisher chemicals company, UK. All solutions were prepared using bidistilled water with resistivity more than 18.2 MΩ cm.

Insects

Laboratory strain of cotton leaf worm (S. littoralis) was cultured on leaves of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis L) under constant laboratory conditions of 25 ± 2 °C and 65 ± 5% relative humidity (RH) in Plant Protection Research Institute, ARC, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. The second instar larval stage of the insect was used in the entomotoxic effect evaluations.

Synthesis of silica nanostructures

SiO2 nanostructures were synthesized by utilizing modified Stöber method. Three different surfactants of TX-100, CTAB, and PVP have been used [26].

SiO2-TX

A mixture solution (50 mL) of TX-100, ethanol, NH4OH, and H2O with the final ratio (0.2:4.6:1:4) was stirred for 30 min at 50 °C. A 3.0 mL of TMOS was injected dropwise to the mixture with constant rate of 10 µL min−1. The final solution was diluted with 100 mL H2O and left under continuous stirring for 42 h. The formed silica sample was filtrated, washed several times by mixture solution of H2O and ethanol, and left to dry at 60–80 °C. Finally, the remaining surfactant was removed by thermal treatment at 550 °C for 6 h.

SiO2-CTAB

A 2 g of CTAB mixed with 5 mL of TMOS. The mixture was transferred quantitatively to 250 mL round bottom flask containing a mixture solution of 3.2 mL NH4OH, 20 mL H2O, and 143 mL ethanol. The flask contents were heated to 100 °C and left under constant stirring for 24 h. The formed silica sample was filtrated, washed several times with a mixture of water and ethanol, and then left to dry at 80 °C overnight.

SiO2-PVP

A mixture solution (50 mL) of PVP, ethanol, NH4OH, and H2O with the final molar ratio (0.2:4.6:1:4) was formed and stirred for 30 min at 50 °C. The mixture solution was diluted by 100 mL H2O. A 3.0 mL of TMOS was introduced with constant rate of 10 µL min−1 and then left it under constant stirring for 42 h. The formed silica sample was filtrated, washed several times with mixture of H2O and ethanol, and left to dry at 60–80 °C. The remaining surfactant was removed by thermal treatment at 550 °C for 6 h.

Characterization of SiO2 nanostructures

The morphology of the SiO2 samples was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM, JEOL model 5400 LV). The SiO2 powders were ground and fixed onto a specimen stub using double-sided carbon tape. To obtain high-resolution micrographs, a 10 nm Pt film was coated on the SiO2 powder using anion sputtering (Hitachi E-1030) at room temperature. The SEM was operated at 20 keV to obtain high-resolution SEM images. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of SiO2 samples was performed using a JEOL-JEM microscope model 2100. TEM was conducted at an acceleration voltage of 200 kV to obtain a lattice resolution of 0.1 nm. TEM images were recorded using a CCD camera. The SiO2 sample was dispersed in ethanol solution using an ultrasonic bath, and then dropped on a copper grid. Prior to inserting the samples into the TEM column, the grid was vacuum dried for 20 min.

The textural surface properties and pore size distribution were determined by N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms at 73 K with a NOVA 3200 apparatus, USA. The specific surface area (S BET) was calculated using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method with multipoint adsorption data from the linear segment of the N2 adsorption isotherm. The pore size distribution was determined from the analysis of desorption branch of isotherm using Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) method. FTIR spectra of silica samples were recorded between 4000 and 400 cm−1 on a Bruker ALPHA FT-IR spectrometer. A little amount of each sample was scratched off and ground with KBr to press pellets for recording their FTIR spectrum.

Bioassays

Surface contact method

The silica samples were uniformly distributed on the bottom surface of plastic containers at doses of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg cm−2. Silica-free container was used in the control set. The containers were covered with muslin cloth to allow aeration. Each treatment was repeated three times. About ten second instars larvae of S. littoralis were introduced to the container after distributing of the material (Scheme 1). All bioassays were performed at 25 ± 2 °C and relative humidity (RH) of 65 ± 5%. Mortality of the insect was checked at particular days and the corrected percentages were statistically computed using Probit analysis program [27].

Scheme 1
scheme 1

Representation of feeding and contact method for cotton leaf worm control

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Feeding method

Feeding entomotoxic effect was performed via leaf dip bioassay method. Leaf discs of castor oil plant were prepared and dipped in a solution of 250, 500, and 1000 ppm of silica samples. The untreated leaf discs of castor oil plant were used in control set. The containers were covered with muslin cloth to allow aeration. Each treatment was repeated three times. About ten second instars larvae of S. littoralis were introduced in each container (Scheme 1). All bioassays were performed at 25 ± 2 °C and RH of 65 ± 5%. Insect mortality was checked at particular days. Their corrected percentages were statistically computed using Probit analysis program [27].

Biochemical analysis

The castor oil leaves were treated with LC50 of SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP nanostructures via feeding bioassay method for 3 days. Then, the survived S. littoralis were collected and allowed to grow on untreated/normal leaves until to reach the sixth instar larvae. The insects were homogenized for biochemical analysis in a chilled glass Teflon tissue homogenizer (ST-2 Mechanic-Preczyina, Poland). The supernatant was kept in a deep freezer at −20 °C for further biochemical analysis. Total carbohydrates, total proteins, total lipids, lactate dehydrogenase (LED), phenol oxidase activity, and chitinase activity were estimated. The absorbance measurement of colored substances or metabolic compounds was performed using double beam UV/Vis spectrophotometer (Spectronic 1201, Milton Roy Co., USA).

Results and discussion

Physicochemical Characteristics of SiO2 samples

Surfactant-assisted method was employed to control the morphology of silica nanostructures. Three different synthesis compositions have been used to form micro-emulsion phases. Figure 1 shows SEM and TEM micrographs of synthesized SiO2 nanostructures in the presence of different structure directing agents: TX-100, CTAB, and PVP. In the presence of TX-100, the SEM image reveals the formation of monolithic particles with plate-like morphology and average particle size about 5–10 µm (Fig. 1a). Aggregated spherical nanoparticles are formed in the presence of CTAB and PVP (Fig. 1c, e). Furthermore, the TEM micrographs exhibit surfactant-dependent size and morphology of SiO2 nanostructures. Figure 1b shows monolith silica particles with a worm-like mesoporous network over a large area of monolithic structure. SiO2-CTAB sample shows aggregated sphere-like particles with an average diameter of 175 nm. However, PVP surfactant reveals uniform and dispersed SiO2 nanostructures with sphere-like morphology; the average diameter is about 33 nm. Such different sizes and shapes of silica nanostructures might offer several interesting physicochemical characteristics that provide more information for designing new inorganic pesticide formulations as well as leading to find out the key factors which control the interactions of SiO2 nanostructures with insect body.

Fig. 1
figure 1

SEM and TEM images of SiO2-TX (a, b), SiO2-CTAB (c, d), and SiO2-PVP (e, f) samples prepared using surfactant-assisted method

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N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms of silica nanostructures showed different surface areas and pore size distribution curves (Fig. 2 a). According to IUPAC classification; SiO2-TX presents type IV isotherm and H2-type hysteresis loop with the highest surface area (S BET) of 634.5 m2 g−1. A well-defined steepness of adsorption/desorption branch features cage-like mesopore with uniform cavities. However, SiO2-CTAB and SiO2-PVP revealed type IV isotherm with pronounced H3 hysteresis loop which could characterize slit-like mesopore entrance. The desorption branch of silica isotherms showed a stepwise behavior ended at the limiting pressure of the hysteresis closure, implying non-uniformity of the mesopore openings associated with pore constrictions and/or ink-bottle pores with narrow necks. The specific surface areas of SiO2-CTAB and SiO2-PVP are S BET = 66 and 158 m2 g−1, respectively. The lower surface area of SiO2-CTAB is attributed to the presence of CTAB surfactant in mesoporous architectures network. Hence, the SiO2-CTAB sample did not treat thermally like SiO2-TX and SiO2-PVP to remove CTAB template. The existence of CTAB increases the hydrophilicity of SiO2 surface and thus changes the interfacial region between the solid SiO2 particle and the insect body wall. The SiO2 nanostructures exhibit uniform pore size distribution of 28.1, 8.5, and 9.76 nm for SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively. The mesoporous network of SiO2 nanostructures might be more suitable for the adsorption of small and large biomolecules in case of SiO2 contact with the insect body wall [22, 23]. These features are very useful to describe the entomotoxic effects based on surface area and/or lipid- or protein-dependent mechanism.

Fig. 2
figure 2

a Nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm and their corresponding pore size distribution curves for SiO2-TX, SiO2-PVP, and SiO2-CTAB. b FTIR spectra of commercial SiO2, SiO2-TX, SiO2-PVP, and SiO2-CTAB

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The chemical state of the SiO2 nanostructures and commercial SiO2 was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR. The FTIR spectra of SiO2 samples in the region 4000–400 cm−1 are explored (Fig. 2b). The FTIR spectra of synthesized SiO2 nanostructures are almost the same as commercial SiO2. The strong and weak bands are centered at 1079, 799, and 459 cm−1; these bands are attributed to the Si–O–Si bond corresponding to bending and stretching vibrations, respectively [28]. The absorption bands at 2856 cm−1 and at 2927 cm−1 for SiO2-CTAB sample are assigned to –CH2 group of CTAB. Furthermore, the absorption band at 959 cm−1 of SiO2-CTAB is attributed to the hydroxyl group (Si–OH); this band disappears after thermal treatment at 550 °C for 6 h [29]. These results suggested the existence of hydroxyl groups on the SiO2 surfaces.

Cotton leaf worm control

Insecticide bioassay is often used to estimate the median lethal dose (LD50) or median lethal concentration (LC50) with associated 95% confidence intervals from a dose–response model. The LD50 or LC50 is the amount of insecticide required to kill 50% of a given population or strain under the specified conditions. Several standard methods such as topical application, residual or surface contact, immersion, and feeding bioassays have been commonly employed to determine the relationship between pesticides administered amount (i.e., dose or concentration) and its response magnitude for living organisms [30]. In this study, we have focused on surface contact and feeding bioassay methods to evaluate the entomotoxic effect of SiO2 nanostructures against S. littoralis.

Surface contact bioassay

The contact entomotoxic effect of the synthesized SiO2 nanostructures has been explored and compared to commercial silica materials (Scheme 1). The SiO2 powders that were uniformly distributed on the bottom of plastic vessels contain different doses of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mg cm−2 at 25 ± 2 °C. The S. littoralis mortality was checked at certain days, as shown in Fig. 3. Interestingly, the commercial SiO2 material has no entomotoxic effects during the first 3 days and the corresponding contact mortality was evaluated to be zero. After that, the mortality was increased up to 100% in the 11th day of treatment (Fig. 3a). However, the synthesized SiO2 nanostructures showed an efficient S. littoralis control with high mortality from the first exposure days. In the first day, the mortality percentage was estimated to be 29.6, 29.1, and 28.1% for SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively. The mortality was increased up to 96.6, 93.3, and 90.0% in the third day of exposure. The median lethal doses (LD50) were calculated to be 0.61, 0.58, and 0.57 mg cm−2 after 3 days compared to 0.495 mg cm−2 for commercial SiO2 after 7 days (Fig. 3). There are several mechanisms for inorganic materials toxicity which have been recently reported including generation of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, membrane disruption, protein unfolding, and/or inflammation. The results showed that the surface area of SiO2 nanostructures has no significant key role in the absorption of lipids present in insect cuticle. Therefore, the dehydration of the insect body caused by SiO2 dust was mainly due to acute damage of the cuticular water barrier as a result of abrasion, and the insects began to lose the water from their bodies and died due to desiccation [31, 32]. Significantly, the surface contact bioassay is independent of particle size and morphology but mainly controlled by the hydrophilicity of the SiO2 surfaces. The presence of small amount of surfactant in SiO2-CTAB does not have any effect on the mortality values, indicating that the hydrophilic surfaces of synthesized SiO2 nanostructures might only enhance the entomotoxic rate (Fig. 3c).

Fig. 3
figure 3

Accumulative mortality at indicated days of S. littoralis exposed to different doses of commercial SiO2, SiO2-TX, SiO2-PVP, and SiO2-CTAB via surface contact bioassay

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Feeding bioassay

Feeding experiment was performed by dipping of castor oil leaf in SiO2 suspension (Scheme 1). Three suspension solutions containing 250, 500, and 1000 ppm of SiO2 nanostructures were prepared in the presence of 0.1% (V/V) Triton X-100 at 25 °C as recommend in pesticide formulations [33]. Figure 4a shows feeding entomotoxic effect for commercial and synthesized SiO2 nanostructures. After 11 days of the treatment, accumulative mortality and post emergence for commercial silica were closely to that of control set experiment even at higher concentrations, i.e., 1000 ppm. However, the synthesized SiO2 nanostructures showed variable intensive entomotoxic effects. The accumulative mortalities using 1000 ppm were about 52.3, 73.1, and 92.2% for SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively. The accumulative mortality of SiO2-PVP was almost double of SiO2-TX. This result revealed that the entomotoxic effect of the synthesized SiO2 NPs is mainly dominated by particle size compared to surface characteristic effect as in the previous contact experiment. The corresponding LC50 values were calculated after 11 days to be 795, 464.2, and 327.7 ppm for SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively (Fig. 4a). The LC50 of methomyl against S. littoralis is about 434.49 ppm after 1 day of exposure under the same experimental conditions. Methomyl is a broad-spectrum carbamate insecticide. It has been used in a wide range of agriculture products, although it was considered as highly toxic organic pesticide for birds and mammals [34]. Although SiO2-TX has the highest surface area, it showed the lowest entomotoxic effect with LC50 = 795 ppm. This observation indicated that surface area is not important factor, especially there is no strong effect for the absorption of lipids present in insect cuticle. Intensive morphological changes of the dead sixth instar of treated larvae have been observed compared with that in control set (Fig. 5a). The biological aspects including pupation, pupa malformation, and adult emergency were investigated (Fig. 4b–d). It was found that the survived treated larvaes with commercial silica transferred to adult insects without any pupa malformation closely to the control set (Fig. 5b). This result indicated that the feeding of commercial silica has no entomotoxic effect against S. littoralis in contrast with synthesized silica nanostructures. The pupa malformations were estimated to be 6.7, 13.4, and 3.4% for treated larvaes with SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively. Such malformations in pupa stage affect on the final percentage of the adult emergence. Hence, the entire malformed pupas do not succeed to transform into adult insects. These results suggested that silica nanostructures are more effective on adults than larvaes. Therefore, the mortality is attributed to the impairment of the digestive tract and surface enlargement of the integument as a consequence of dehydration or blockage of spiracles and tracheas. Such intensive damage sorption and abrasion might be due to the generation of reactive oxygen radicals in aqueous suspensions of the synthesized silica nanoparticles. Both homolytic (Si·, SiO·) and heterolytic (Si+, SiO−) cleavages might take place in the silicon-oxygen bond through particle cracking in digestion tract. These radicals stabilized as a surface bound reactive oxygen species and then decay subsequently [35]. Therefore, biochemical analyses have been performed to investigate the exposed particle surfaces which could interact with the insect.

Fig. 4
figure 4

Accumulative mortality after 11 days of the post treatments (a), pupation (b), pupa malformation (c), and adult emergence (d) of S. littoralis exposed to dried and treated leaf discs of castor oil plant with different concentrations of commercial SiO2, SiO2-TX, SiO2-PVP, and SiO2-CTAB via feeding bioassay

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Fig. 5
figure 5

Photographic images of a sixth instars and b pupa malformation for S. littoralis exposed to 1000 ppm of SiO2-TX, SiO2-PVP, and SiO2-CTAB by feeding bioassay

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Biochemical impacts

The biochemical changes in living organisms that exposed to insecticides provide some clues of their mode of actions. Total carbohydrate content of the sixth instars of S. littoralis treated with LC50 of SiO2 nanostructures was estimated (Fig. 6a). A significant decrease can be observed: −52.7, −32.43, and −27.71% for SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively. The reduction in total soluble carbohydrate content of the treated larvaes could be attributed to metamorphic changes in larvaes. Hence, the carbohydrate content supplies the body with glucose and provides an energy source for synthesis of larvae and adult tissues, especially the cuticle [36, 37]. Therefore, the deficiency in carbohydrates content has been leading to pupa malformation (Fig. 5b). Furthermore, a marked diminution in total proteins content of the sixth instars of S. littoralis: −47.6, −44.11, and −23.36% treated with SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively (Fig. 6b). Such reduction of total protein content might be attributed to protein leakage during intoxication that caused a significant lack in body weight, conversion of protein to amino acids, and degradation of protein to release energy or the direct effect of the tested materials on the amino acids transport of the cell [38].

Fig. 6
figure 6

Total carbohydrates (a), total protein content (b), total lipids (c), LDH (d), phenol oxidase activity (e), and chitinase activity (f) of the sixth instars of S. littoralis treated with LC50 of iO2-TX, SiO2-PVP, and SiO2-CTAB via feeding bioassay

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The change in the total lipid content of the sixth instars of S. littoralis treated with LC50 of silica nanostructures was presented in Fig. 6c. The total lipid content was slightly decreased: −28.95, −5.26, and −2.63% for SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively. This result clearly confirmed our suggestion; there is no strong effect for the absorption of lipids present in insect cuticle. Although SiO2-TX sample has the highest surface area, it has the lowest effect on total lipids content (Fig. 2a). Therefore, the dehydration of the insect body caused by surface reactive silica particles was mainly due to the acute damage of the cuticular water barrier as a result of abrasion [39]. Furthermore, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of S. littoralis in the sixth instars was also decreased: −17.18, −15.41, and −16.42% for SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively (Fig. 6d). This observation supports a physical mode of action of SiO2 nanostructures with a weak chemical stress upon S. littoralis in contrast with the traditional organic pesticides which caused a strong chemical stress [40].

Phenol oxidase (PO) is an important component of S. littoralis immune systems. Figure 6e illustrates the phenol oxidase activity of S. littoralis treated with silica nanostructures. It was found that the PO activity was increased in the following: +25.94, +15.42, and +26.7% for SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively. In general, PO activity is correlated with the resistance of the insect to pathogens [41]. The lower activity of phenol oxidase using SiO2-CTAB is attributed to the presence of surfactant-coated silica particles. Furthermore, the chitinase activity was also increased (Fig. 6f): +19.32, +14.78, and +4.79% for SiO2-TX, SiO2-CTAB, and SiO2-PVP, respectively. The hyperchitinase activity might be attributed to chitin synthesis inhibitor or may be a secondary effect for the reduced activity of β-ecdysone metabolizing enzymes followed by β-ecdysone accumulation [42, 43]. In general, the mentioned biochemical analyses provide a clear evidence for the hypothesis of physical mode action of SiO2 NPs due to the impairment of the digestive tract and generation of reactive SiO2 surfaces in the aqueous formulations. So far, the application of silica NPs in inorganic pesticide program will offer many advantages over the traditional organic pesticide control as:

  1. 1.

    The insects are unlikely to become genetically selected or physiologically resistance [42, 43].

  2. 2.

    The inorganic formulations based on nanomaterials will reduce the environment risk. Over than 2.8 million tons of organic pesticides are used annually over the world. It has been estimated that only 0.1% of applied pesticides reach the target pests, leaving the bulk of the pesticides in water supplier and soil.

  3. 3.

    Saving the water resources particularly in case of no testing for toxic residue levels in developing countries. Energy and raw materials that might be used for cleaning and decontamination of the water will be utilized.

  4. 4.

    Development of sustainable strategy for cotton leaf worm control that enhances the productivity of such essential crops in Mediterranean area.

Conclusion

SiO2 nanostructures have been synthesized via surfactant-assisted method and utilized for cotton leaf worm control. The entomotoxic effects of SiO2 NPs were explored by surface contact and feeding bioassay methods. Interestingly, the commercial silica did not show any entomotoxic effect on treated larvaes by feeding bioassay and slower entomotoxic effect in surface contact experiment. However, the synthesized silica nanostructures exhibited intensive entomotoxic effect in both bioassay methods. It was observed that the dead bodies of the insects became extremely dehydrated due to the damage of insect cuticular water barrier as a result of abrasion. This hypothesis for the physical mode of action makes the use of nanopesticide stronger and insects are unlikely to become genetically selected or having no physiological resistant to such a type of materials. The usage of inorganic nanopesticides might open a new avenue for plant protection that definitely enhances environmental and economic benefits compared to toxic and persistent organic pesticides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt

    Haytham A. Ayoub, Mohamed Khairy & Farouk A. Rashwan

  2. Plant Protection Research Institute, ARC, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

    Haytham A. Ayoub & Hanan F. Abdel-Hafez

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  1. Haytham A. Ayoub
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  2. Mohamed Khairy
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Correspondence to Mohamed Khairy.

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Ayoub, H.A., Khairy, M., Rashwan, F.A. et al. Synthesis and characterization of silica nanostructures for cotton leaf worm control. J Nanostruct Chem 7, 91–100 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40097-017-0229-2

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Keywords

  • Silica nanoparticles
  • Mesoporous materials
  • Nanocides
  • Plant protection
  • Spodoptera littoralis