Biology of Cabbage Butterfly Pieris brassicae Linn. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Abstract

Nanoformulations applied in biomedicine and agriculture are designed to decrease dose-dependent toxicity by the reduced amount of an applied compound, which is realized by increasing the solubility of poorly water soluble active ingredients, enhancing their bioavailability, targeted delivery, controlled release, and/or protection against degradation. The toxicity of pesticides is influenced by their chemical stability, solubility, bioavailability, photodecomposition, and soil sorption; therefore one of possible solutions designed to minimize the dose-dependent toxicity of active ingredients includes the development of nanocarriers able to modify the properties of active ingredients and allow their controlled delivery and release. However, the causal link between nanoengineered pesticide properties and their biological effects is not well known and represents an important challenge of nanoecotoxicology. This paper is focused on methods of preparation of nanoengineered active ingredients, their formulation to nanocarriers for targeted biodistribution/controlled release and their biological effectiveness. Benefits and environmental risks of nanopesticides are discussed as well.