Abstract
Pesticides are of great significance in ensuring food yield. However, the extensive use of pesticides has led to severe environmental pollution and significant economic losses. Chitosan-based pesticide delivery systems potentially present a favorable approach to enhance pesticide using efficiency. Herein, we disclose a facile strategy to construct chitosan-based supramolecular hydrogels (LP@CTAB-QCS) from eco-friendly quaternary ammonium chitosan, cost-effective quaternary ammonium surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and laponite (LP) clay via synergistic electrostatic and multiple hydrogen bond interactions. These hydrogels could efficiently encapsulate pesticides like naphthalene acetic acid and gibberellin, achieving a loading efficiency of 4.77% and a sustained release rate of over 80% within 28 h, thereby promoting the growth of Chinese cabbage (a nutritious common vegetable) and alfalfa (a high-quality forage grass in China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region). More importantly, the gelation of CTAB not only preserves its antifungal activity but also enhances its biocompatibility. The hydrogels exhibited excellent fungicidal efficacy against Dioscorea batatas (a major threat to Dioscoreaceae crops), Setosphaeria turcica (a key pathogen of maize), and Botrytis cinerea (a key pathogen of gray mold disease), both severely impacting agricultural development, particularly staple crop production. The inhibition rates reach over 97%, 86%, and 91%, respectively, while causing no damage to the tested cell lines (Vero, 293T, and L929). This work might provide a promising and feasible route for sustainable agriculture.