Dual pH/glutathione-responsive polyphenol-based self-assembled nanoparticles loaded with lambda-cyhalothrin show enhanced UV stability and non-target organism safety

Current advancements in pesticide research and development emphasize eco-friendly, intelligent, and precision-oriented approaches that enhance agricultural productivity minimize environmental impacts, and improve pest control efficacy. This study presents a tannic acid/F-127/Fe-targeted nanodelivery system (TA/F127-Fe) engineered through synergistic metal-ligand coordination and hydrogen-bonded self-assembly that enables multilevel molecular interactions for structural stability. The system is versatile as a hydrophobic drug carrier, achieving simultaneous nanocarrier synthesis and pesticide loading via hydrophobic interactions based on a facile one-pot method. The optimized formulation achieved 90.45 % encapsulation efficiency for lambda-cyhalothrin (LC), effectively shielding pesticide molecules from UV degradation. Enhanced rainfastness evaluation revealed that LC@TA/F127-Fe presented superior retention on superhydrophobic cabbage surfaces compared to conventional emulsifiable concentrate formulations. This nanodelivery system exhibited responsive release profiles under weakly acidic, weakly alkaline, and glutathione-rich conditions. Notably, LC@TA/F127-Fe demonstrated reduced environmental exposure risks and enhanced safety profiles in zebrafish models and human cell viability assessments. This study establishes an eco-friendly, stimuli-responsive, and easily fabricated self-assembled nanoplatform that represents a promising strategy for intelligent pesticide delivery while addressing ecological safety concerns in agricultural applications.