Zein Nanoparticles for Enhanced Translocation of Pesticide in Soybean (Glycine max)

Zein nanoparticles (ZNPs) are proposed as effective delivery systems capable of enhancing the translocation of nonsystemic agrochemicals from the roots to the leaves of soybean plants. ZNPs with entrapped methoxyfenozide (MFZ) (209.0 +/- 5.6 nm and -42.1 +/- 2.1 mV) were formed via emulsion-evaporation and used to facilitate the translocation of MFZ from the roots to the leaves and stems, as measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), under hydroponic conditions. MFZ concentration increased within the leaves over time from 0.04 to 2.35 mu g g(-1) at 0.2 mg mL(-1) ZNPs exposure, compared to free MFZ (<0.02 mu g CI) after 24 h of exposure. The MFZ release from ZNPs, as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), followed pseudo-first-order kinetics at 25 degrees C, with a faster release at lower ZNP concentrations than at higher concentrations. ZNPs may prove to be a versatile delivery system for other agrochemicals due to their ability to enhance translocation within plants.