# From Nature to Nanotech: Customizing Essential Oil Delivery for a Reduced Fungicide in Agriculture

## TL;DR

This review explores how nanotechnology can improve the use of essential oils as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides in agriculture.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of lipid-based nanoencapsulation methods for essential oils, emphasizing the role of NLCs in sustainable agriculture.

## Key findings

- Lipid-based nanoparticles like NLCs enhance the stability and controlled release of essential oils.
- Nanoencapsulation supports integrated pest management by enabling codelivery with biocontrol agents.
- The review identifies challenges in large-scale production and ecological safety assessment.

## Abstract

Modern agriculture is increasingly challenged by climate
change,
soil degradation, and the growing incidence of fungal diseases, which
significantly reduce crop yields and quality. To mitigate these problems,
the increased use of synthetic pesticides has become common; however,
their overuse has led to environmental contamination, human health
risks, and the emergence of resistant pathogens. Essential oils (EOs)
have shown promise as a sustainable alternative due to their natural
antifungal, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Despite their
potential, direct agricultural application of EOs is limited by volatility,
poor water solubility, and instability under environmental conditions.
Nanotechnology offers an innovative approach through the nanoencapsulation
of EOs, enhancing their stability, bioavailability, and controlled
release while minimizing volatilization losses. Among the available
delivery systems, lipid-based nanoparticles, such as solid lipid nanoparticles
(SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), stand out for their
biocompatibility, environmental safety, and ability to prolong biological
activity in the field. These systems also enable codelivery of EOs
with biocontrol agents or micronutrients, thereby supporting integrated
pest and disease management strategies. This review provides a timely
and comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in the nanoencapsulation
of EOs using lipid-based nanoplatforms, filling a critical gap in
the literature by elucidating the pivotal role of NLCs in enabling
sustainable, effective, and scalable strategies for fungal disease
control in agriculture. Additionally, it highlights current challenges
and future research directions related to large-scale production,
field validation, and the assessment of ecological safety and potential
effects on nontarget organisms.