Environmentally Friendly Sustained-Release Antifungal Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex Nanofibers for Controlling Fungi

The development of hydrophobic pesticide formulations remains constrained by complicated manufacturing processes, excessive reliance on organic solvents, and indispensable surfactants. The practical application of dimethomorph (DIM) is hindered by its hydrophobic nature, posing risks to nontarget organisms. Inspired by the uptake of nanomaterials by plants, DIM was encapsulated in the cyclodextrin (CD) cavity to optimize its water-solubility and the sustained-release rate. The spatial confinement effect of CD could facilitate the thermostability of DIM. DIM/CD inclusion complex solutions were electrospun to fabricate nanofibers with bead-free and smooth morphology. As predicted, the release of DIM/CD inclusion complex nanofibers reached plateaus with accumulative release values of approximately 75%. The antifungal activity of DIM/CD inclusion complex nanofibers possesses much higher than DIM for controlling Rhizoctonia solani and Haematonectria hematococco, thereby enhancing its antifungal bioactivity and reducing pesticide spraying frequency. The inhibition rates of Rhizoctonia solani by DIM/HPβCD and DIM/HPγCD inclusion complex nanofibers are found to be 55.8% and 53.6% within 144 h, respectively. This work explores the feasibility of inclusion of complex nanofibers as a delivery platform for application in sustained agriculture production.