Lipid Nanoparticle Formulations for Hydrophobic Crop Agent Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The efficacy of agricultural agents like pesticides is limited by solubility issues and undesired interactions with soil and plant tissues, necessitating improved compositions and formulations for efficient delivery and biodistribution.
Innovation Solution
Agricultural compositions comprising nature-derived lipid particles (NLPs) with a hydrophobic core, containing essential oils, phospholipids, and surface modifiers, which encapsulate hydrophobic functional agents, enhancing solubility and plant uptake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrophobic agricultural agents are applied directly, then the formulation is simple, but the solubility and plant uptake are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nature-derived lipid particles as an intermediary carrier to solubilize hydrophobic agricultural agents. The NLPs comprise a hydrophobic core that encapsulates the agent, along with phospholipids and surface modifiers that enable plant uptake and distribution, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining formulation simplicity and improving solubility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite formulation by combining hydrophobic agricultural agents with nature-derived lipid particles containing essential oils, phospholipids, and surface modifiers. This composite structure enables the hydrophobic agent to be delivered effectively through plant tissues while maintaining the beneficial properties of both components.
2Reliability
If agricultural agents interact with soil, then delivery to plant is possible, but undesired interactions reduce efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The NLPs serve as a protective intermediary between the hydrophobic agricultural agent and the soil environment. The lipid particle structure shields the agent from undesired soil interactions while maintaining delivery capability, thereby improving reliability by preventing harmful interactions.
3Reliability
If agricultural agents are taken up by plants, then therapeutic effect is achieved, but distribution in plant tissues is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The nature-derived lipid particles act as intermediaries that facilitate both uptake and distribution within plant tissues. The surface modifiers and phospholipid composition enable the NLPs to interact with plant cell membranes and distribute the encapsulated agent throughout the plant, improving biodistribution without requiring overly complex delivery systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The NLPs increase the solubility and biodistribution of hydrophobic agents in plants, improving their efficacy by increasing encapsulation efficiency and promoting targeted delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The NLPs increase the solubility and biodistribution of hydrophobic agents in plants
Implementation Method 2
at least one phospholipid; wherein the NLPs comprise a hydrophobic core
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are compositions including a plurality of nature-derived lipid particles (NLPs) comprising phospholipids, essential oils, blends of essential oils and polar lipids, and optionally surface modifiers, and further comprising bioactives, wherein the NLPs comprise a hydrophobic core, for use in a variety of agricultural methods.