Reviewed by Lexie CornerMar 18 2025
In line with a current examine revealed in Nature Communications, UNSW scientists are investigating nanomedicine to develop extra inexpensive and environmentally pleasant agrichemicals.
Whereas working within the UNSW labs, Dr. Cong Vu had an concept: the tiny particles he was creating to ship drugs to most cancers cells may need one other potential use.
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I spotted, why don’t we use the nanoparticles right here to encapsulate pesticides for farmers?
Dr. Cong Vu, Adjunct Fellow, Faculty of Chemistry, UNSW
Vu noticed that the most cancers medicine he was utilizing shared traits with herbicides. Like most cancers drugs, agrichemicals are potent substances that may be dangerous if utilized within the unsuitable place.
“We don’t wish to overdose; we don’t need the residue, however on the similar time, we’d like the chemical to achieve and deal with the issue,” stated Dr. Cong Vu.
Nevertheless, many agribusinesses are unable to afford the event of nanoparticles.
In 2021, Dr. Vu based NanoSoils Bio, a UNSW-based firm, with the goal of growing extra inexpensive nano-agrochemicals utilizing data from nanomedicine.
The last word aim, in response to Dr. Vu, an Adjunct Fellow at UNSW’s Faculty of Chemistry, is to create merchandise that enhance the supply of fungicides and pesticides, supporting cleaner and extra sustainable farming.
Along with pesticides, NanoSoils is engaged on a mission to provide silica nanoparticles that can assist cotton crops grow to be extra drought-resistant.
The corporate lately submitted its first two patent purposes for strategies to optimize nanoparticle effectivity.
Nanomedicine Grounds Rising Analysis
Analysis exploring the potential purposes of nanoparticle designs—initially developed to fight most cancers—serves as the muse for Dr. Vu’s work.
Vu defined how design ideas from nanomedicine, akin to altering the scale, floor, and composition of nanoparticles containing most cancers drugs, could be utilized to focus on and ship agrichemicals in crops.
The significance of this crossover is highlighted by Professor Justin Gooding, former supervisor and co-author of the examine.
In line with Prof. Gooding, nanomedicine has greater than twice as many publications and patents as nano-agriculture.
We’ve demonstrated that we will get nanoparticles of various shapes to focus on diseased cells extra successfully than wholesome ones. For instance, rod-shaped particles are usually extra profitable at translocating by cells than spherical ones.
Justin Gooding, Professor, Former Supervisor and Examine Co-Creator, UNSW
Insights from nanomedicine have the potential to scale back prices, which is the first impediment to innovation in nano-agrochemicals.
Slightly than ranging from Floor Zero, Dr. Vu is leveraging what we already know to handle urgent points in agriculture and for the atmosphere.
Justin Gooding, Professor, Former Supervisor and Examine Co-Creator, UNSW
Seeds of Inspiration
Dr. Vu claims that rising up in an agricultural space in Vietnam is partly the explanation for the keenness for sustainable agriculture.
“When pesticides are sprayed, greater than 90 % of the chemical leaks into the atmosphere. We have to management how pesticides are delivered to pests in order that we decrease hurt to helpful species like bees,” defined Dr. Vu.
Prof. Gooding highlights that range in science performs a vital position in discovery. “Completely different experiences deliver completely different views,” stated Prof. Gooding.
“Being a part of a college fosters collaboration amongst individuals from all backgrounds, creating an atmosphere the place new concepts can thrive,” stated Prof. Gooding.
Nanotechnology in Agriculture
Journal Reference:
Vu Thanh, C., et al. (2025) Studying classes from nano-medicine to enhance the design and performances of nano-agrochemicals. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57650-8
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