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Silica nanoparticles mediated insect pest management

Gouranga Saw, Priyanka Nagdev, Mallikarjuna Jeer, R.K. Murali-

Baskaran

PII: S0048-3575(23)00189-X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105524
Reference: YPEST 105524

To appear in: Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology

Received date: 28 April 2023

Revised date: 5 July 2023
Accepted date: 7 July 2023

Please cite this article as: G. Saw, P. Nagdev, M. Jeer, et al., Silica nanoparticles mediated
insect pest management, Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology (2023), https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.pestbp.2023.105524

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Silica nanoparticles mediated insect pest management

Gouranga Saw, Priyanka Nagdev, Mallikarjuna Jeer* and R. K. Murali-Baskaran
ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur-493225 (Chhattisgarh), India

*Corresponding Author: Mallikarjuna.J@icar.gov.in

*Corresponding author:
Dr. Mallikarjuna J
Senior Scientist (Entomology),
ICAR- National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur-493225 (Chhattisgarh), India

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Email: Mallikarjuna.J@icar.gov.in

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Phone: +91 8871787464
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ABSTRACT
Silicon is known for mitigating the biotic and abiotic stresses of crop plants. Many studies
have proved beneficial effects of bulk silicon against biotic stresses in general and insect
pests in particular. However, the beneficial effects of silica nanoparticles in crop plants
against insect pests were barely studied and reported. By virtue of its physical and chemical
nature, silica nanoparticles offer various advantages over bulk silicon sources for its
applications in the field of insect pest management. Silica nanoparticles can act as insecticide
for killing target insect pest or it can act as a carrier of insecticide molecule for its sustained
release. Silica nanoparticles can improve plant resistance to insect pests and also aid in
attracting natural enemies via enhanced volatile compounds emission. Silica nanoparticles are

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safe to use and eco-friendly in nature in comparison to synthetic pesticides. This review

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provides insights into the applications of silica nanoparticles in insect pest management along
with discussion on its synthesis, side effects and future course of action.
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Keywords: Synthetic pesticides; Silica nanoparticles; Insect pests; Environmental Pollution;
Insecticide carrier; Slow release pesticides
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1 Introduction
To meet out the food requirement of ever-increasing global population, there is a
demand for increased food production by 2050 (Yadav, 2020). One of the key challenges
restricting global agricultural production is the insect pests and diseases of crop plants. Insect
pests and pathogens can harm nearly all crops. Bacteria, nematodes, viruses, and fungi are
examples of invaders. According to the estimates, the plant diseases accounts for
approximately 25% of annual crop losses (Lugtenberg, 2016), whereas insect pests account
for 10.8% of worldwide output (Dhaliwal et al., 2015).
Synthetic pesticides such as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides are commonly
employed in pest management now a days. Pesticides have negative side effects on non-target

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organisms, the resurgence of the pest population, and the development of resistance despite

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their high availability, rapid action, and dependability (Khan et al., 2023). Additionally, 90%
of herbicides administered are expected to be lost during or after the process (Ghormade et
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al., 2011; Araújo et al., 2023). As a result, there is a greater incentive to produce pesticides
that are effective, cost-efficient, and safe for the environment. Recent research has focused on
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adopting safe replacements in pest management programs to reduce reliance on chemical
pesticides. The modern-day science and technologies like “Nanotechnology” offer wider
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applications and greater advantages over synthetic pesticides in the field of insect pest
management in agriculture.
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Nanotechnology is the application of science, engineering, and technology at the

nanoscale, or between one and one hundred nano meters. The study and application of very
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small nanoscale items in nanoscience and nanotechnology can assist all other scientific
subjects, including agriculture and allied sciences (Singh and Gurjar, 2022; Haris et al.,
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2023). The use of eco-friendly nanoparticles in plant protection is becoming increasingly

important. The application of nano-particle technology in agricultural insect pest
management could have a significant positive impact over other plant protection technologies
(Kannan et al., 2022). The superiority of nanoparticles in insect pest management is depicted
schematically in Fig. 1.
Si is known for mitigating the biotic and abiotic stresses of crop plants. Si is a quasi-
essential nutritional element for plants because, despite not being essential for their growth
and development, it has certain favourable effects on them (Epstein, 1994). The beneficial
role of Si against many insect pests of various crops have been well documented. The uptake
of Si, the second-most abundant element in the earth's crust, by terrestrial plants may account
for 0.1-10% of their dry weight (Epstein, 2009). The three main types of silicon found in
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nature are mineral silicates, alumino-silicates, and silicon dioxide (SiO2). Plants, on the other
hand, are unable to reach the majority of these forms. Monosilicic acid (H4SiO4), which is
naturally present in soil and accessible to plants as silicon, is the only form of silicon that
plants can absorb (Pooniyan et al., 2023). The concentration of this acid is affected by the
texture, properties, pH, organic matter, mineral content, and other factors of the soil (Barreto
and Barão, 2023). Many studies from numerous fields have revealed that plant Si nutrition
provides a wide range of favourable impacts (Jeer et al., 2017; Jeer et al., 2018; Jeer et al.,
2021; Islam et al., 2020). Si is essential for reducing biotic and abiotic stressors and is well-
known for doing so (Islam et al., 2020; Islam et al., 2023). However, studies on the effects of
silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) against insect pests in various crops, their application and mode

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of action in various crops is still in infancy stage.

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Silica nanoparticles are now widely used in different fields of agriculture and allied
sciences. By virtue of their physical and chemical nature, SiNPs offer wider applicability and
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greater advantages over synthetic pesticides in the field of insect pest management (Wang et
al., 2022). Many surface fictionalizations are available in silica due to their hydroxyl, amine,
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thiol, and carboxyl groups (Tortella et al., 2023). SiNPs have many roles to play for
sustainable insect pest management programmes in agriculture (Fig. 2). The full potential of
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nanoparticles in agriculture has yet to be realized. In this article, a review has been made on
the synthesis and applications of silica nanoparticles in the field of insect pest management.
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Fig. 1. Schematic comparison of conventional pesticides vis-à-vis nano based pesticides

(adopted from Manna et al., 2023)

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volatiless

Acts as insecticide molecule

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SiNP
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Acts as insecticide carrier

Acts as plant growth promoter and

induce defense mechanisms
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Fig. 2. Schematic representation of beneficial roles of silica nanoparticles in insect pest

management.

2 Synthesis of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs)

Because of the usage of SiNPs in various technical domains, their demand will rise in
the approaching days. SiNPs are critical for a variety of applications, including those in
medicine, food, catalysis, smart pesticides, and agriculture (as mineral carriers for plants).
SiNPs can be generated on a large scale chemically, however, this has the potential to have
detrimental environmental consequences. SiNPs mainly synthesised by two approaches:
bottom-up approach and top-down approach. The size of the SiNPs reduced from starting size

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to smaller size through various modern techniques in top-down approach; whereas in bottom-
up approach, the SiNPs are synthesised from atomic level.

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This review includes examples from the literature as well as a discussion of various
approaches for SiNP production.
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2.1 Green synthesis of SiNPs
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2.1.1 Agricultural waste
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As a precursor, agricultural waste is utilized to produce SiNPs. The biggest advantage of

employing it, is the abundance of agricultural waste at the end of each harvest season. As a
result, technologies for producing nanoparticles from agricultural waste are always less
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expensive than alternative alternatives. Rice husk is a silica-rich by-product of rice

production. There are numerous reports in the literature on the usage of this material to make
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high-quality SiNPs. Jansomboon et al. (2017), for example, used rice husk for the first time to
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synthesize silica micro- and nanoparticles. Sankar et al. (2016) created bio-generated SiNPs
from sticky, red, and brown rice husk ash. Several researchers employed rice straw as a silica
source to create extremely pure amorphous silica nano-discs (Lu and Hsieh, 2012). Mohd et
al. (2017) described the synthesis of SiNPs from sugarcane bagasse. Falk et al. (2019)
generated SiNPs by employing sugarcane bagasse ash in magnesio-thermic processes.
Vaibhav et al. (2015) synthesised SiNPs from agricultural wastes such as rice husk, bamboo
leaves, sugarcane bagasse, and groundnut shell to recover 52-78% silica.
Some of the other agricultural wastes utilised for SiNP synthesis are left over leaves
of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) (Athinarayan et al., 2020), seed head of Sorghum vulgare
(Balamurugan et al., 2012), cow dung ash (Sivakumar and Amutha, 2012), straw of teff
plants (Eragrostis tef) (Wassie and Srivastava, 2017).
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Espíndola-Gonzalez et al. (2010) used annelid bioprocessing to create crystalline

SiNPs from agricultural waste. In this process, the agricultural wastes were treated with an
annelid, Eisenia foetida to generate humus, and then the SiNPs were created via
calcination and acid treatment. Ghorbani et al. (2013) used sedge to create silica
nanoparticles in a novel way. Carex riparia produces a significant amount of agricultural
waste. It provided an outstanding method for converting waste into useful nano-materials by
synthesising SiNPs.
The several advantages of green synthesis of SiNPs from agricultural wastes are less
toxic, high purity, high adsorption capacity, cost effective and eco-friendly in nature. These
SiNPs having excellent physical and chemical properties like high porosity, higher specific

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area, compatible particle size of 5-100 nm or more, biocompatibility and less toxicity

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(Sharma et al., 2022). However, there are some limitations of green synthesis of SiNPs from
agricultural wastes are non-availability of raw material in huge quantity, irregular structure of
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nano particles,
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2.1.2 Plant sources
A considerable amount of studies on the ecologically friendly manufacturing of
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nanoparticles utilising various plants have recently appeared in the literature. As previously
stated, various plant components can be employed to create nanoparticles made of various
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elements. Many plant extracts from various sources have been employed as reducing or
hydrolysing agents in synthetic methods for the synthesis of nanomaterials (Karande et al.,
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2021). This environmentally friendly technique helps to eliminate the demand for chemicals
used in the synthesis of various nanomaterials.
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Many well-known examples of plants employed in the ecological synthesis of SiNPs

are discussed in a review article Karande et al. (2021). Babu et al. (2018) used silica from the
Cynodon dactylon plant to create SiNPs for antibacterial research. Sethy et al. (2019) used
bamboo leaf ash to make silica nanoparticles that improved the separation abilities of a
polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane. Most researchers used plant extract as a base in
the alkaline hydrolysis step of SiNP synthesis. Durairaj et al. (2019) used the well-known sol-
gel technique and ash from Bambusa vulgaris leaves to create silica nanoparticles for
environmental applications. Jabeen et al. (2017) reported the synthesis of silica nanoparticles
from Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaves employing a chelating agent-effective extract. Al-
Azawi et al. (2019) boiled an aqueous decoction of Thuja orientalis leaves to make silica
nanoparticles and examined how it affected biofilm formation. Irzaman et al. (2018)
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produced 99.9% pure SiO2 from bamboo stalks. Using the acid-leaching process, silica was
recovered from banana stalks (Yusaidi et al., 2019).
San et al. (2014) developed a novel one-step technology that included laser ablation
and a documented environmentally safe process to create silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) from
sugar beet bagasse. Their findings reveal that laser-generated SiNPs are significantly smaller
(38-190 nm) in contrast to chemically manufactured SiNPs. Agunsoye et al. (2018)
investigated the use of cassava periderm as a novel source of silica in their study. They were
able to extract silica nanoparticles from Cassava periderm using a reduction technique. Anuar
et al. (2018) investigated the use of coconut husk waste as a source of silica for synthesis. A
chemical extraction process is used to isolate silica from coconut husk. All of the above

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studies emphasise the importance of environmentally friendly synthesis of SiNPs from

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diverse plants.

2.1.3 Microorganisms
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Modern technological advances have made it possible to manipulate different bacteria
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and change their genetic makeup in order to manufacture valuable nanomaterials. In fact,
they are thought to be the most effective green nano factories (Pugazhenthiran et al., 2009).
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Several publications discuss how microorganisms can be employed to create SiNPs.

Vetchinkina et al. (2019) created silicon nanospheres with sizes ranging from 5 to 250 nm
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using liquid bacterial culture. Singh et al. (2008) created silicon/silica nanocomposites using
the microorganisms Actinobacter species. This study exposed microorganisms as well as the
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silica precursor K2SiF6. The bacteria's secreted reductase and oxidase enzymes produced
silica nanoparticles.
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Show et al. (2015) used the thermophilic bacterium BKH1, an inorganic magnesium
trisilicate precursor, and an organic tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) precursor to develop a
green approach for producing SiNPs. Nanoparticle synthesis can be accomplished utilising
simple eukaryotic animals such as yeast. To photochemically synthesize silica nanoparticles,
Liu et al. (2014) use TEOS as a silicon source and diphenyl iodonium hexafluorophosphate
as a super acid generator. The particles were eventually formed as a result of the produced
acid's initial hydrolysis of the silica source (TEOS) (Liu et al., 2014). Saccharomyces
cerevisiae yeast was employed by Zamani et al. (2020) to produce silica nanoparticles for use
in increased oil recovery.
More attention has recently been drawn to the use of fungi as nano factories for the
production of different nanomaterials. Fungi produce a large number of enzymes and are
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easier to work within the lab, so employing them to make nanoparticles could be fascinating.
According to research, Verticillium sp. has the potential to be exploited for intracellular
nanoparticle synthesis, whereas the genera Penicillium, Fusarium, and Aspergillus have the
ability for extracellular bio-production of different metal nanoparticles. There are numerous
reports in the literature of fungus being used to synthesise SiNPs. Pieła et al. (2020), for
example, used the fungus F. culmorum to bio convert maize cob husk into silica nanoparticles
of particular size and form. Bansal et al. (2005a) developed a novel approach for producing
silica nanoparticles by bioleaching sand with the fungus F. oxysporum. After the biomass and
sediment interact, the bioleaching process is completed in a day.
In a similar work, an aqueous anionic molecule called SiF6-2 was utilised to create

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silica nanoparticles from the mould F. oxysporum. Fungi exposed to silicon complex produce

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proteins capable of hydrolysing SiF6-2 to produce SiNPs (Bansal et al., 2005b). In a separate
work, Bansal et al. (2006) discovered a novel technique for producing nano silica using rice
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husk. The fungus F. oxysporum is employed in this study to bioleaching silica from rice
husks. This fungus has the ability to swiftly bio-transform naturally existing bio-silica from
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rice husk into crystalline silica nanoparticles.
Actinomycetes are anaerobic, gram-positive mycelial microbes. They can also be
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employed to create nanoparticles. Bio-silicification is a technology for producing oxide

nanoparticles for industrial usage which is cost-effective, energy-efficient, and
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environmentally benign. Kaur et al. (2016) used a range of eukaryotic microorganisms,

including Actinomycetes, F. oxysporum, A. niger, Trichoderma species, and Penicillium
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species, to create SiO2 nanocomposites from rice husk and wheat bran. In less than 24 hours,
each of these microorganism’s bio-transforms amorphous silica from a natural source into
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crystalline silica with a size range of 232 to 250 nm.

Because there is no possibility of the production of harmful by-products during their
synthesis, the purity of the SiNPs produced using the various green methods described above
is considerably higher than that of the SiNPs produced using chemical methods.

3. Chemical synthesis of SiNPs

One of the main disadvantages of synthesis of SiNPs from biological material is that
the non-availability of such material in huge quantity. Hence, SiNPs can also be synthesised
using non-biological starting materials through various procedures.

3.1 Chemical synthesis

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3.1.1 Stöber method

The Stöber method is one of the sol-gel procedures (Fig.2) that Stöber, Fink and Bohn
devised (1968). The synthesis of SiNPs has made considerable use of it because it may be
used to create monodisperse solid particles without a template (Liberman et al., 2014).
Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and/or other silicates are combined with water, alcohol, and
ammonia to create significant amounts of silica molecules in this process. A Si-O-Si
condensate is then produced by drying or dehydrating the silica molecules. As the
concentration approaches supersaturation, the primary SiNPs quickly organise into primary
silica particles. Nano silica particles, which are more stable, are created from these
fundamental silica particles. Condensates or soluble silica molecules undergo further

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processes and regulate surface development before producing SiNPs (Van Blaaderen et al.,

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1992; Green et al., 2003).
High homogeneity, high purity, excellent crystal structure, and optical transparency
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are characteristics of pure SiNPs. The Stöber method can be used to create solid and
mesoporous SiNPs. Nevertheless, the cost of the raw materials needed to prepare SiNPs is
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high, the procedure takes a long time, and it might be hazardous to the environment (Li et al.
2021). The Stöber process must therefore be enhanced through more in-depth research
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employing less expensive raw materials and effective production techniques.

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Fig. 3. (A) Schematic representation of different approaches of SiNP synthesis and

advantages of green synthesis process. (B) Detailed schematic representation of green
synthesis process, separation and purification (adopted from Manna et al., 2023).
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3.1.2 Gas phase method

In gas phase methods, tetrachlorosilane, commonly known as silicon tetrachloride, is

frequently utilized as a raw material. Hydrolysis of silicon tetrachloride vapour with
hydrogen and oxygen occurs when it is heated to a high temperature. Afterwards, a sol
atomizer is used to produce a polydisperse or monodisperse liquid (Lu et al., 1999). To
produce the necessary nanoparticles with a low density and distinctive mesoporous structure,
the droplets are heated further. Excellent purity, great dispersion, and a reduction in surface
hydroxyl groups are just a few benefits of producing SiNPs in the gas phase. The limitations
include high energy costs, costly raw materials, complex technology, and specialized tools
(Buesser and Pratsinis, 2012).

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3.1.3 Microemulsion method

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A synthetic "nanoreactor," also known as a microemulsion, is a two-liquid system that is
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isotropic, surfactant-stable, and thermodynamically stable (Wolf and Feldmann, 2016). An
aqueous microemulsion (NPs) is typically created when two reactants interact (Boutonnet et
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al., 1982). The nanoparticles made with this method have thin particle forms, and by
adjusting the microemulsion system's settings, different particle sizes can be made. SiNPs
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with a particle size of under 100 nm can be produced using a microemulsion process. The
SiNPs' shape and particle size distribution can be easily adjusted thanks to the basic and user-
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friendly experimental setup. If it were possible to obtain SiNPs with higher purity by
eliminating the organic by-products created during the process, it might be enhanced (Aubert
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et al., 2010).
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3.1.4 Precipitation method

It is one of the promising methods of nanoparticles synthesis. Before the precursor
precipitant is added to the combined solution to generate the precipitate during the
precipitation process, a number of chemical components are first put in a solution state (Nele
et al., 1999). The residue is subsequently calcined or dried to form SiNPs. Although the
production method is simple and requires little energy, impurities, and aggregation are easily
imaginable. An organic dispersion in the silicate solution is thus necessary to obtain effective
SiNP dispersion.

4 Uptake and deposition of SiNPs

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In agriculture, SiNPs can either be directly applied to soil solution or sprayed on the
foliage. SiNPs can enter leaves and move through cuticula or stomata to various sites when
employed in foliar treatments. There are two ways for solutes to get through the cuticle: one
is the lipophilic pathway for non-polar solutes via diffusion and penetration, and the other is
the hydrophilic pathway for polar solutes via water pores (the effective diameter of these
pores is 0.6–0.8 nm) (Popp et al., 2005; Schreiber, 2005; Eichert et al., 2008). Along the
stomatal pathway, the hydrophilic elements are also transported by stomatal pores. Due to the
complex interaction between the particular geometric structure and physiological function of
the stomata, the precise size exclusion limit of the pores that nanomaterials can infiltrate is
still unknown. Hu et al. (2020), sprayed SiNPs (18 nm) and spent three hours looking at

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SiNPs in the guard cells of foliage. Moreover, through a leaf's stomata and the outside of its

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cell walls, SiNPs may enter the leaf's air spaces (El-Shethey et al., 2020).
Nanomaterials may migrate from the roots to the leaves after penetrating the leaves
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and returning through the phloem (Wang et al., 2012; Lv et al., 2019). Complexes may
develop in the roots as a consequence of interactions between transport proteins,
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nanomaterials, and root exudates (Rico et al., 2011). These complexes can pass through the
cell walls of the roots, directly penetrate plant cells through the cytoplasmic membrane, or
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enter plant cells through intracellular phagocytosis (Kurepa et al., 2010; Chang et al., 2013;
Sun et al., 2014; Tripathi et al., 2017). Furthermore, nanomaterials may pass through the
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xylem from the roots to the branches (Sun et al., 2014; Sun et al., 2016). From roots to
branches, silicon is taken up by three different transporter proteins known as transport
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proteins Lsi1, Lsi2, and Lsi6 (Ma and Yamaji, 2008; Ma and Yamaji 2006). SiNPs are
transported to the root by the Lsi1 transporter (Sun et al., 2014; Nazaralian et al., 2017). Yet,
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the quantity has no impact on the expression of the Lsi1 gene in plants.
The primary way SiNPs enter the plant body is through increased mass infiltration
(Aslani et al., 2014). In addition, rice plants treated with SiNPs produces more Lsi1 and Lsi2
silicon transport genes under salt stress (Abdel-Haliem et al., 2017). Moreover, silicate
supplementation increased OsLsi1, an aquaporin (AQP) that moves silicate, and the AQP
may link silicate to molecular signalling (Tripathi et al., 2021). Because different plant
species accumulate and absorb nanomaterials in different ways, the process is strongly
dependent on the kind of plant, its biochemistry, and the particle size (Rico et al., 2011;
Aslani et al., 2014). Although the accumulation of SiNPs in root cells declines with an
increase in SiNP size, Slomberg and Schoenfisch (2012) discovered that SiNPs with varying
sizes (14, 50, and 200 nm) may be able to reach Arabidopsis roots.
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The size and charge of the nanoparticles determine how effectively they enter guard
cells, extracellular space, and chloroplasts (Hu et al., 2020). When Cui et al. (2017) treated
rice cell suspension cultures under chromium stress with SiNPs of varied particle sizes (19,
48, and 202 nm), they discovered that viable rice cell suspension which was treated with
SiNPs with small particle sizes. Similarly, the effectiveness of SiNPs as bactericides decline
when Pseudomonas aeruginosa particle size increases (Carpenter et al., 2011).

5 Mode of action of SiNPs

The mode of action of several nanomaterials have not received substantial attention, as was
previously emphasized. A schematic representation of mode of action of SiNPs presented in

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Fig. 4. Silica nanoparticles stand out as a remarkable exception (Debnath et al., 2011;
Fröjtier-Pölloth, 2012; Arumugam et al., 2016). They are physiosorbed by the insect's

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cuticular lipids, which results in considerable injury and the insect's death (Barik et al., 2008),
a similar effect to that of diatom earth used to control pests of crops (Kavallieratos et al.,
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2018). In a relatively recent study by Shoaib et al. (2018), it was observed that Plutella
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xylostella (L.) larvae dust-sprayed with silica nanoparticles died from desiccation, body wall
abrasion, and spiracle blockage, with 85% mortality after 72 hours. This mode of action has
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recently been verified (Shoaib et al., 2018). It's interesting to note that the insect trachea's
gene structure was unaffected by the usage of nanoparticles. In view of this, the WHO has
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determined that utilizing amorphous silica as a nano pesticide is safe for people (Athanassiou
et al., 2018).
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When silica nanoparticles were tested for their effects on the members of
Chironomidae, it was discovered that Chironomus riparius larvae exposed to porous-
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type SiO2 particles showed increased mortality, even if growth indicators did not demonstrate
important changes (Lee et al., 2009). Nevertheless, as previously emphasized by Fröjtier-
Pölloth (2012), no valid conclusions can be derived from these data due to the heterogeneity
of the aforementioned results and the fact that Lee et al. (2009) only evaluated one
concentration (1 mg/L). Additional studies looked at how silica nanoparticles affected
invertebrates' histology and morphology. It's noteworthy that Mommaerts et al. (2012)
discovered that workers who were inebriated while bumblebees, Bombus terrestris L., were
exposed to Ludox TMA silica nanoparticles suffered severe midgut epithelial injury (34
mg/L).
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Fig. 4. Mode of action of SiNPs against stored grain pests (adopted from Jasrotia
et al., 2022).

6 SiNPs and insect pest management

6.1 SiNPs to control insect-pests
Insect-pests are one of the world's major problems with stored grains because of the
quantitative and qualitative losses they cause (Fields, 2006). Pests in agricultural storage have
traditionally been managed using synthetic chemical pesticides (Salem et al., 2007).
Consumers are more concerned than ever about insecticide residues in processed cereal goods
due to the possible risks that synthetic insecticides provide to mammals. New approaches to
control stored product insect pests are required because of the development of insecticide-
resistant insect strains, the ecological implications, the rising expense of treatment, and the
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care needed to apply existing chemical pesticides (Udo, 2005; Fields, 2006; Mahdi and
Rahman, 2008). As a result, it's critical to look for alternative organic sources that are broadly
available, affordably affordable, less detrimental to mammals, humans and ecosystem (Udo,
2005).
Because the bulk of the newest generations of pesticides lacks or have poor natural
water solubility, the formulations are often either emulsifiable concentrates (EC), oil-in-water
emulsions, or other varieties that are similar (Knowles, 2009). Oil-in-water solutions can
overcome these problems, but they are energy-intensive (Kah et al., 2013). The organic
solvents employed in EC formulations are dangerous, pricey, and naturally combustible.
Using nanoparticles or nanoemulsions to encapsulate the active chemicals is one of the

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greatest ways to address the downsides of employing insecticides (Song et al., 2009).

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Nanotechnology will be able to overcome the limits of traditional pesticides by increasing
pesticide efficacy, improving the stability of active components, lowering dosage
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requirements, and conserving agronomic inputs (Jasrotia et al., 2018; Rikta and Rajiv, 2021).
By reducing the need for harmful chemical pesticides and harming farm pests, silica
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nanoparticles are employed to battle pest resistance (Barik et al. 2008; Xiang et al. 2013).
Insects perish through erosion and desiccation as a result of the breakdown of the cuticular
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water barriers caused by silica nanoparticles (Tiwari and Behari, 2009).

The use of a silica-based nano formulation to combat the rice weevil, Sitophilus
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oryzae proved to be an efficient pest control strategy (Debnath et al., 2011). They evaluated
doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 g of SiNP kg-1 rice grains and found that 95 and 86% insect mortality
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with hydrophilic and hydrophobic SiNPs at 1 g kg-1, respectively. In a similar study, SiO2
based nanoparticles killed the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus, when cowpea
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seeds mixed with SiNPs at a rate of 2.06 g/kg of seeds, with a fatality rate of 100% (Rouhani
et al., 2013). Babamir-Satehi et al. (2017) evaluated residual toxicity of chlorpyrifos (40.8%
EC) loaded SiNPs (Ch-SiNPs) against Rhyzopertha dominica and T. confusum on different
surfaces. They found that R. dominica mortality percentage after 24 h exposure to Petri dish,
galvanized steel, mosaic and concrete treated with 0.2 mg cm-2 Ch-SNP was 100, 82.8, 40
and 1.4%, whereas the mortality was 100, 97.1, 20 and 18.5 % for T. confusum at 60-day
post-treatment, respectively. Similar to this, Kallur and Patil (2019) discovered that SiO2-
based nanoparticles isolated from Alstonia scholaris were more toxic to R. dominica, with
LC50 values of 0.8 mg/ml and LC95 values of 1.95 mg/ml. After being treated for 10 days
with inorganic nano silica at a concentration of 0.90, 50% of adult T. castaneum died (Khalil,
2019). At the concentrations of 0.67 mg/kg and 1.7 mg/kg, SiO2 nanoparticles proved
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effective defense against C. serratus, and mortality increased with exposure time (Diagne et
al., 2019).
Rouhani et al. (2019) demonstrated that SiNPs could kill Sitophilus granarius 100%
with LC50 value of 0.68 g kg-1 cowpeas on adults and 1.03 g kg-1 on larvae. Four common
stored grain pests, Sitophilus oryzae, R. dominica, T. castaneum, and O. surinamensis, were
efficiently eliminated when maize grains were fumigated with SiNPs (El-Naggar et al.,
2020). They evaluated nine different concentrations of 0.0031, 0.0063, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5,
5, and 10 g/kg SiNPs and found that mortality percentage increased with the concentrations.
At a dosage of 2,000 ppm of SiNPs, the egg production of T. castaneum and C. maculatus
was successfully decreased to 58 eggs per female and nine eggs per female, respectively

of
(Annon et al., 2020).

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Nano silica with the addition of deltamethrin, pyriproxyfen, and chlorpyrifos was
tested by Babamir-Satehi et al. (2020) against Trogoderma granarium larvae feeding on
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stored wheat using mosaic and galvanized steel surfaces. The most effective treatments
against T. granarium larvae were determined to be deltamethrin and chlorpyrifos, and the
re
mortality rates in galvanized steel were substantially higher than those in mosaic ones. Green
silica nanoparticles (1,500 ppm) produced from spinach leaves, tulsi leaves, and paddy
lP

husks have been shown to be reliable replacements to malathion (an organophosphate

insecticide) (Wazid et al., 2020). Aerosil 200, chemical silica, and bio-silica in the form of
na

nanoparticles were evaluated against the storage pests such as C. maculatus, R. dominica, and
T. confusum. The three insects under study were all killed by the investigated compounds,
ur

and the rates of mortality increased with exposure time and concentration. The three
substances were the most harmful to adults of C. maculatus, R. dominica, and T. confusum at
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all doses used (Abdelfattah and Zein, 2019; Salem, 2020).

SiNPs coated insect-proof nets are also good option to prevent insect pests damage to
crops, where in these nest acts as mechanical barrier and also kills insect-pests that come in
contact. In an interesting study, Agrafioti et al. (2020) evaluated four insect-proof net
formulations coated with SiNPs for their insecticidal properties against adults of Aphis fabae
and S. oryzae and larvae of T. confusum. It was noticed that all for nets significantly reduced
the A. fabae population 1-day post-exposure, while for S. oryzae 7-day post exposure period.
After 7 and 14 days, respectively, S. oryzae was killed by nano silica of 30 nm diameter at a
concentration of 0.5 g per kg of rice (Kar et al., 2021). Adult mortality for T. confusum and R.
dominica was higher than 86 and 95%, respectively, after being exposed to Mamaghan DE
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for 14 days. DE was supplemented with nano silica produced from sugarcane bagasse ash
(SCBA) to boost its insecticidal effects (Saed et al., 2021).
Insect pests (foliage feeders) of field crops, such as African cotton leafworm
(Spodoptera littoralis), Tobacco caterpillar (S. litura), castor semi looper (Achaea janata),
diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella) and armyworm (Mythimna separata) have recently
been successfully controlled using SiNPs (Ayoub et al., 2017; Shoaib et al., 2018; Bilal et al.,
2020; Thabet et al., 2021; Wang et al., 2021). Among the sap-sucking insect pests that SiNPs
also managed were the aphids, Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Debnath et al., 2010), Aphis
gossypii, and the mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis (Pavitra et al., 2018).
Ayoub et al. (2017) conducted surface contact and feeding assay with SiNP doses at

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doses of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mg cm−2 and 250, 500, 1000 ppm, respectively against S. littoralis and

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found highest mortality in surface contact bioassay with dehydrated insect dead bodies due to
cuticular damage. The insect pupae were malformed and unable to emerge into adult in case
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of feeding bioassay. Shoaib et al. (2018) evaluated entomologic effect of SiNPs against P.
xylostella using dust spray, larva dipping, leaf dipping, and solution spray methods. They
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noticed dust spray has the significant mortality when compared to other methods. The
mortality percentage increased up to 58% and 85% at 24 and 72 h after treatment,
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respectively, when SiNPs were applied at a rate of 1 mg cm−2. Similarly, Thabet et al. (2021)
reported 100 % reduction in S. litura population when soybean plants treated with 300-425
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mg/L of SiNPs. Wang et al. (2021) observed 53.5% inhibition in larval growth of M.
separata when the maize plants were treated with SiNPs at the rate of 50mg/L. Also,
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different doses of SiNPs were applied to the tomato leaf-mining field pest, Liriomyza trifolii,
and it was found that there were significantly less mines, pupae, and puparial weight (Thabet
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et al., 2020).
Pavitra et al. (2018) evaluated the SiNPs at the dosage of 2000 ppm against sap
sucking pests A. gossypii, and the mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis and observed 100%
mortality at s days after treatment.

6.2 SiNPs to increase plant resistance

Also, it was found that even at low concentrations of SiNP, the activity of antioxidant
enzymes including catalase and superoxide dismutase was increased. P. xylostella, the
diamond-back moth, a cruciferous agricultural pest, showed higher mortality as a result of
cuticular abrasion, spiracular obstruction, and desiccation (Shoaib et al., 2018). SiNPs
enhanced mortality in the cotton leaf worm S. littoralis, but they had no detectable effects on
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reproduction or growth (El-bendary and El- Helaly 2013). Several of the personnel who
applied SiNPs observed physiological changes and disruption of midgut epithelial cells
without any obvious signs of injury (El-bendary and El- Helaly, 2013). Positively charged
SiNPs were administered to fall armyworm S. frugiperda Sf9 cells to stimulate cellular
proliferation, and the amount of proliferation varied with concentration (Santo-Orihuela et al.,
2016).
It is well known that SiNPs encourage the development of glandular trichomes, which
is assumed to be an insect pest defense mechanism. When SiNPs were applied topically to
tomatoes, the density of the glandular trichomes increased dramatically (Ahmad et al., 2020).
Higher glandular trichome kinds weren't examined, though. We must investigate the effects

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of SiNPs on the generation of various glandular trichome types and their anti-insect

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secretions in this particular area. SiNPs were used to make a few thermosensitive pesticide-
controlled release formulations (Yang et al., 2021). It was discovered that buprofezin was
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taken up by thermosensitive mesoporous SiNPs, where it promoted the growth of rice plants
and had a long-lasting effect against brown planthoppers (BPH). Furthermore, it was found
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that zebrafish and human pneumonocyte cells were unaffected by these thermosensitive
SiNPs (Yang et al., 2021).
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Wang et al. (2021) observed that due to application of SiNPs at the dose of 50mg/L to
maize plants against M. separate, 44.2% increase in the production of chlorogenic acid, a
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defense compound involved in the plant resistance to insect pests, as well as the expression of
PAL, C4H, 4CL, C3H and HCT, core genes involved in the biosynthesis of chlorogenic acid.
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SiNPs are also involved in plant growth promotion activities apart from the inducing
the genes related to defense related mechanisms against insect pests. Cheng et al. (2021)
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revealed that application of fluorescent silica nanomaterials at the rate of 5 mgL-1 to rice
seedlings under hydroponic conditions significantly improved fresh and dry weight of shoot,
root length, tip number and surface area. It was also revealed that fluorescent silica
nanomaterials induced the upregulation of genes involved in plant-pathogen interactions,
glucose metabolism, carbon fixation, signal transduction against brown plant hopper
infestation through transcriptomics studies.

7 SiNPs as insecticide carrier

Insecticides were first incorporated into nanoparticles in the early 2000s. Since then,
experiments have been carried out using a variety of nanoparticles utilizing conventional
pesticides and bioactive substances with insecticidal capabilities (Table 1). Researchers
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sought to increase low water solubility, lessen volatilization, increase stability, and offer
a progressive release of the active chemicals in these investigations.
Due to their low water solubility, insecticides must be used with organic solvents,
which raises their cost and negative effects. Instead, utilising nanoparticles to increase
absorption, the toxicity can be decreased. Modified chitosan and porous silica have
successfully been coated with low-water-soluble insecticides (Zhang et al., 2013; Lu et al.,
2013; Campos et al., 2018a). (Wang et al., 2014). None of these investigations, however,
looked at lowered ambient toxicity. In order to efficiently lower cell growth in S. litura
ovarian cell lines, Lu et al. (2013) used modified chitosan nanoparticles to transport the
hydrophobic insecticide Azadirachtin.

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Liu et al. (2015) reported that H. armigera larvae treated with dendrimers containing

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hydrophobic thiamethoxam showed higher absorption as well as increased mortality. It's
interesting to note that H. armigera rarely responds to thiamethoxam. Nevertheless, toxicity
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increased noticeably when applied to dendrimer nanoparticles. Anacardic acid, a liquid
cashew nut extract, intercalated with Layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles, and
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this was once again connected to an increase in mortality (Nguyen et al., 2014). The LDH
compound caused more deaths when administered to the epidermis of S. litura or mustard
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leaves than anacardic acid alone. This research highlights the potential advantages of
employing nanoparticles to make active compounds more soluble.
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One major problem with the post-application loss of insecticide is the evaporation or
volatilization of the active ingredient. Although essential oils are known to have insecticidal
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qualities, they quickly evaporate when exposed to air, light, moisture, and high temperatures
because of their chemical instability. Lai et al. (2006) discovered a 45.5% evaporation with
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an early burst release as opposed to 80% evaporation of the essential oil alone after 48 hours.
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Table 1. Summary of studies on utilizing SiNPs as insecticide carrier for insect pest
control
Insecticide Crop Target insect pest Main findings References
Cotton bollworm Enhanced insecticidal
Brassica Song et al.
Chlorfenapyr (H. armigera) and activity by using SiNP
chinensis (2012)
P. xylostella as carrier
Tobacco cutworm
Increased larval
-pinene and Castor leaf (S. litura) and Rani et al.
mortality and controlled
Linalool discs Castor semi- (2014)
releases
looper (A. janata)
Enhanced controlled
release, photostability Wang et al.
Abamectin - -

of
and water solubility of (2014)
abamectin
Termite (C. Sustained release and

ro
Wibowo et
Fipronil - acinaciformis) enhanced efficacy by
al. (2014)
-p 73%
Wen et al.
(2005)
Increased photostability Li et al.
re
- -
and sustained release. (2006)
Avermectin Li et al.
lP

(2007)
Increased toxicity and
Brassica Kaziem
P. xylostella larva controlled release. No
oleraceae (2018)
effect on plant growth.
na

Slow and controlled

release, soil improver as Plohl et al.
Citridiol® - -
silicon and nitrogen (2021)
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nutrient source
Improved loading rate
Dianjing et
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Rotenone Tomato - (31.6%) and sustained

al. (2020)
release time of 288 hrs
Sustained release,
improved uptake and Guo et al.
Rotenone Cucumber -
translocation ability of (2022)
rotenone
Sustained and controlled
Chen et al.
Pyoluteorin - - release with prolonged
(2011)
antifungal effects
Enhanced adhesive
Ectoparasitic tick
property with Zhang et al.
Spinosad - (Rhipicephalus
significantly increased (2020)
microplus)
tick mortality
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Improved efficacy,
diamondback
Emamectin photostability and Shoaib et al.
- moth, Plutella
benzoate sustained release with (2018)
xylostella L.
high insect mortality
Orizon® SiNPs at 25, 50 and 75
(Acetamiprin + 4th instar Tuta Shnawa and
- ppm caused 46, 55 and
Abamectin) and absoluta larvae Alshukri
66% mortality,
Oxymatrine (2022)
respectively.
Reduced oviposition by
Eurygaster 63.24%, 66.11%, and Alizadeh et
Deltamethrin 67.62%, respectively, at
Wheat integriceps al. (2022)
10, 25, and 125 mg L-1
dosage

of
Reduced oviposition and
Tetranychus hatchability over five Zayed
Abamectin - urticae days at 22 and 28 oC (2022)

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respectively
Cnaphalocrocis Increased toxicity and
-p Gao et al.
Abamectin Rice controlled release. No
medinalis (2019)
effect on plant growth.
El-Samahy
re
Neem oil Tomato Tuta absoluta Increased toxicity et al.
(2014)
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Enhanced enzymatic
activity of
Aphis gossypii, carboxylesterase (CarE)
Spirotetramat Hussein et
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- Bemisia tabaci and glutathione S-

al. (2022)
transferase (GST) and
increased mortality of
upto 78-92%
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Reduced gut proteinase

Protease Helicoverpa Bapat et al.
Tomato (HGP) activity by 50%
inhibitor armigera (2020)
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and retarded growth

Ziaee, M.
Deltamethrin, Increased mortality of and
pyriproxyfen, Trogoderma 70.5% on small and
- Babamir-
and granarium 55.5% on large larvae Satehi, A.
chlorpyrifos after 7 days of exposure (2020)
Highest loading rate
(85.73%) with improved
utilization rate.
Monochamus Improved contact Wang et al.
Avermectin Forest alternatus toxicity (LC50 = 14.27 (2023)
μg/mL) and stomach
toxicity (LC50 = 10.90
μg/mL)
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This resulted from putting the essential oil of Artemisia arborescens L. into glass containers and encasing it in SLN nanoparticles. In a
different study, harvested rice that had been treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and garlic essential oil was attacked by red flour beetles.
Mortality was seen to be 80% with the nanoparticle formulation after 5 months, compared to 11% with the essential oil alone (Yang et al., 2009).
Rani et al. (2014) applied castor leaves with silica suspended in acetone with encapsulated -pinene and linalool in a manner similar to this. S.
litura and castor semi looper fed on treated leaves demonstrated lower feeding activity, which led to starvation-related death, claim the

f
researchers. These tests successfully showed that when the active was coupled with nanoparticles, the volatility issues were overcome.

o
o
Increasing the stability of the active molecules and providing a continuous release are two additional requirements for creating nano-

r
p
insecticides, as doing so would enable a reduction in insecticide usage and an improvement in safety. Imidacloprid sprayed alone or with sodium

-
alginate-encapsulated imidacloprid was equally effective, according to field tests performed by Kumar et al. (2014). In order to obtain equivalent

e
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or more effective control against the diamondback moth (P. xylostella) throughout a three-day period, Song et al. (2012) treated Brassica
chinensis with silica-encapsulated chlorfenapyr. In a different study, fipronil-loaded nanoparticles with an oil core and a silica shell with a

a l
thicker shell were fed to termites, and this caused a protracted release as opposed to an initial burst release. This might have made it possible for

n
the worker termites to carry the bait back to their nest. Comparing silica-loaded fipronil to the commercial pesticide, the 100% mortality window

r
o u
was extended by three days, which improved colony eradication. Jenne et al. (2018) looked at the efficacy of azadirachtin loaded onto zinc oxide
or chitosan nanoparticles during a 180-day period in groundnut bruchid storage settings. When combined with neem seed kernel extract that was

J
rich in zinc oxide nanoparticles, groundnut bruchid lost 54.61% of its weight in comparison to the other formulations examined.
The toxicity of the pesticides might be minimized by a delayed release of the active components. According to certain studies,
insecticides may be released from nanoparticles over a longer time to do less harm. For instance, Kumar et al. (2014) reported that their results
"clearly reveal that at this dose loaded-pesticide nano formulation is very less dangerous than original pesticide" while evaluating the
cytotoxicity of imidacloprid loaded onto sodium alginate nanoparticles. Little change was visible, though, and no statistical analysis was done.
Meredith et al. (2016) found that the insecticide's unformulated form and bigger micron-sized particles of the same composition were more
harmful to zebrafish than hollow polymeric shell nanoparticles encasing -cyhalothrin. Some researchers also observed a decrease in toxicity in
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mouse fibroblast cell lines when zein nanoparticle-encapsulated botanical repellents were used instead of the repellents alone (Oliveira et al.,
2018). Similarly, when carvacrol and linalool were loaded into chitosan nanoparticles, their toxicity was reduced when applied to two fibroblast
cell lines (Campos et al., 2018b). The results of these experiments are promising, but more research is needed to confirm the reductions in
pesticide toxicity caused by nanoparticle encapsulation.

8. Phytotoxicity of SiNPs

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SiNP supplementation in agriculture is currently a prominent topic, yet there is still disagreement on how hazardous SiNPs are to plants.

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Plant interactions with nanomaterials alter plant gene expression and related biological pathways, affecting plant growth and development

- p
(Ghormade et al., 2011). The physical and chemical features of SiNPs, as well as their application settings, influence their potential toxicity in

e
plants (Narayan et al., 2018; Croissant et al., 2017). SiNPs' large specific surface area and easy cell penetration suggest that their size may play

r
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an important role in their toxicity (Slomberg and Schoenfisch, 2012; Van Hoecke et al., 2008). SiNPs (12.5 nm) are less toxic to algae than bulk
silica (Hellala et al., 2020).

a l
The surface area of SiNPs influences their ecotoxic effects (Van Hoecke et al., 2008). However, various plants exhibit varying levels of

r n
resistance to SiNPs, implying that the damaging impact of SiNPs is most likely dose-dependent. The cytoplasmatic membrane disintegration and

u
cell shape of the marine microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta were affected by the 200 mgL-1 SiNPs (Manzo et al., 2015). SiNPs (14, 50, and 200

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nm) did not inhibit Arabidopsis growth in a hydroponic system at 1000 ppm (Slomberg and Schoenfisch (2012), however, higher SiNPs levels
(more than 2000 mg/L) may be deleterious to Arabidopsis root system growth (Lee et al., 2010). Similar results were reported in sugar beetroot,
where 2 mM SiNPs enhanced MDA levels under dry stress (Namjoyan et al., 2020). Rapid ROS generation is a natural plant response to
stressful conditions. Under various types of stress, plants might produce some stress signals, such as antioxidant enzymes and metabolites, to
scavenge ROS. SiNPs, on the other hand, have the potential to disrupt a plant's metabolic activities. After roots are exposed to SiNPs, maize
leaves undergo amino acid metabolism, methane metabolism, carbon metabolism, and enhanced defence responses (Zhao et al., 2019).
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Increased SiNP concentrations were found to have an effect on wheat plant growth and development, with noticeable changes in
biochemical markers such as chlorophyll content, lipid peroxidation, and improved antioxidant enzyme activity (Karimi and Mohsenzadeh,
2016). High concentrations of SiNPs were applied to Bt-cotton, and a comparable suppression of root and shoot growth was found (Le et al.,
2014). Increasing SiNP doses resulted in genome-level toxicity in several crops. Greater SiNP doses resulted in a lower meiotic index and
chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa (Silva and Monteiro, 2017). SiNPs were administered to broad bean (Vicia faba) at 50 and 75 mg/L
rates, with equivalent results (Adhikari et al., 2013).

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o
Yet, some of the workers observed that using SiNPs at larger concentrations produced non-toxic effects on agricultural plants. The dosage of

r
p
SiNPs had no effect on rice growth and maturation (Mushinskiy et al., 2018). Like potatoes, none of the five SiNP concentrations showed any

-
discernible impacts (Jiang et al., 2009). SiNPs have also been discovered to be toxic to soil microbes as well as plants. Bacillus subtilis, E. coli,

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and Pseudomonas fluorescens are only a few of the microorganisms discovered to be hazardous to higher concentrations of SiNPs (Thabet et al.,
2020). The harmful influence of SiNPs on the soil microbial population is extremely restricted, and more research is needed.

9 SiNPs and Tri-trophic interaction

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Higher Si in plants provides many layers of defense against insect pests by stimulating the formation of semiochemicals such as volatile

u
organic compounds (VOCs), which may attract predators or parasitoids of insect pests (Moraes et al., 2004; Murali-Baskaran et al., 2020). There

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has been very little research in this field, and the direct application of bulk Si has not been connected to any negative consequences (Cáceres et
al., 2019). Messina and Sorenson (2001) demonstrated that while aphid Diuraphis noxia Kurdijumov populations were low, the predator
Chrysoperla plorabunda (Fitch) was more effective on Si-treated wheat plants.
Spiders, green lacewings, and carnivorous coccinellids were attracted to Si-treated groundnut plants (Parthiban et al., 2017). The predator
beetle Dicranolaius bellulus was more attracted to the cucumber plants Helicoverpa armigera when Si was added to the soil. Additional details
were presented, such as how soil-applied Si boosted plant volatiles generated by herbivores, attracting the predator beetle (Kvedaras et al.,
2010). To avoid any negative impacts on tri-trophic interactions, the permissible doses of SiNPs for field application must be carefully
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evaluated. Given the lack of studies addressing the effects of chronic SiNP exposure, it is critical to determine how bioaccumulation functions in
these studies. It is critical to determine how SiNPs administered topically or subsurface will affect natural enemies.

10 Conclusion and Future prospects

The use of silica nanoparticles is one of the potential methods for reducing plant pests, improving plant development, and enhancing production.

o f
Biofertilizers based on nano silica will be a suitable replacement for conventional chemical fertilisers due to their ease of manufacture, high
absorption, and high surface-to-volume ratio. Several studies have demonstrated that silica nanoparticles can considerably reduce the negative

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impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses. The molecular mechanism underpinning nano silica-mediated gene regulation during plant growth,

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development, and stress should be the primary focus of future research. Also, the crop growth methods should be used rather than encouraging

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plants' higher uptake of nano silica. It is critical to perform sufficient research to identify whether silica nanoparticles are phytotoxic or

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beneficial to various agricultural plants. The cautious development and expansion of the usage of nano pesticides and nano insecticides based on

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nano silica will be a major focus of future research initiatives. As a result, agronomists now have new research options to produce cutting-edge
products that may help enhance agricultural production while avoiding environmental impact and global food security issues.

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According to the study, SiNPs have the potential to transform present technologies in a variety of areas, including plant biotechnology

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and agriculture. The application of SiNP-mediated biomolecule targeting will enable the development of new cultivars that are resistant to a

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variety of biotic and abiotic stresses. These nanoparticles have the potential to provide non-hazardous alternatives to various chemical fertilisers
without threatening the ecology. As a result, SiNPs may be effective in addressing a variety of agricultural issues such as weeds, pathogenicity,
drought, crop output, and productivity. A better knowledge of the benefits and limitations of nanotechnology will lead to broader acceptance of
this new technology. Rapid testing of biosensors and technologies for pest management and cross-contamination of agricultural and food goods
will lead to nanotechnology applications in the near future. Nanoscale biopolymers for improved heavy metal decontamination and recycling,
nanostructured metals that degrade hazardous organics at room temperature, smart particles for environmental monitoring and purification, and
nanoparticles as a novel photocatalyst are a few nanotechnology applications that are almost commercialized. As a result, nanotechnology will
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soon change agriculture, including insect control. Nanotechnology will hasten the green transformation during the next two decades.
Nanoparticles are being employed in the development of new pesticides, herbicides, and insect repellents.
The development of more nutrient-dense foods for the community, as well as the application of nanotechnology in domains such as
sustainable, high-quality agriculture, have the potential to significantly increase living standards. It is now considered that this technology will
shape the fate of every country on the planet. Any newly introduced technology must be thoroughly analysed for any unanticipated dangers that

f
may arise as a result of its high potential. A country's future rests on developing qualified future labour for this unique technology. As a result, it

o
o
is critical to disseminate information about its benefits to the general public as soon as possible, as doing so will substantially increase awareness

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p
and drive the development of new applications across all industries. The future of nanoscience in agriculture is uncertain for a variety of reasons,

-
including a negative public perception of genetically modified (GM) crops, a lack of highly skilled personnel in government agricultural research

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and technology units, and a lack of sufficiently equipped new instruments and cutting-edge technologies. There is a significant call among
society, the general public, and new scientific concepts to lessen the chaotic shape that exists. If we are successful, society will be on the verge
of an unexpectedly spectacular and prosperous future.

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Acknowledgement

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Authors acknowledge the support of Director, ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. This research
manuscript is outcome of the in-house project ICAR-NIBSM/ReP-18/2023-1.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets of the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request
Declaration of Competing interests
All the authors declare no competing interests in any form.
Funding
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The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.
Author Contribution statement.
Mallikarjuna Jeer conceptualised the work, writing, reviewing, final editing and overall supervision. Gouranga and Priyanka-review collection
and writing. Murali-Baskaran-reviewing and editing.

Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that there is no potential conflict of interest.
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volatiless

Acts as insecticide molecule

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Acts as insecticide carrier

Acts as plant growth promoter and

induce defense mechanisms
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Highlights
 SiNPs have greater advantages over synthetic pesticides in insect pest management
 SiNPs induce growth promotion and defense reaction against insect pests
 SiNPs can be a good carrier for insecticides for their safe disposal.
 SiNPs are eco-friendly in nature and reduce environmental pollution

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