Cytoprotection, Genoprotection, and Dermal Exposure Assessment of Chitosan-Based Agronanofungicides.

Farhatun Najat Maluin,Sharida Fakurazi,Noramiwati Rashid,Murni Nazira Sarian,Siew Ee Ling,Mohd Zobir Hussein,Abu Seman Idris,Nor Azah Yusof,Nor Fadilah Rajab,Leona Daniela Jeffery Daim

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics12060497

Farhatun Najat Maluin, Sharida Fakurazi + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12060497

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Abstract

Health risks which result from exposure to pesticides have sparked awareness among researchers, triggering the idea of developing nanoencapsulation pesticides with the aim to enhance cytoprotection as well as genoprotection of the pesticides. In addition, nanocapsules of pesticides have slow release capability, high bioavailability, and site-specific delivery, which has attracted great interest from researchers. Hence, the objective of this work is to synthesize a nanoformulation of a fungicide of different sizes, namely, chitosan-hexaconazole nanoparticles (18 nm), chitosan-dazomet nanoparticles (7 nm), and chitosan-hexaconazole-dazomet nanoparticles (5 nm), which were then subjected to toxicological evaluations, including cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, cell death assay, and dermal irritation assays. Incubation of chitosan-based nanofungicides with V79-4 hamster lung cell did not reveal cytotoxicity or genotoxicity, potentially suggesting that encapsulation with chitosan reduces direct toxicity of the toxic fungicides. Meanwhile, pure fungicide revealed its high cytotoxic effect on V79-4 hamster lung cells. In addition, dermal exposure assessment on rabbits revealed that chitosan-hexaconazole nanoparticles are classified under corrosive subcategory 1C, while chitosan-dazomet nanoparticles are classified under corrosive subcategory 1B. Moreover, both chitosan-hexaconazole nanoparticles and chitosan-dazomet nanoparticles are classified as causing mild irritation.

Highlights

Pesticide covers a wide range of agrochemicals including fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, nematicides, rodenticides, or plant growth regulators
chitosan-hexaconazole nanoparticles (CHEN), chitosan-dazomet nanoparticles (CDEN), and chitosan-hexaconazoledazomet nanoparticles (CHDEN) show a significant improvement with satisfactory biocompatibility where the proliferation of V79-4 hamster lung cell remained above
CHEN, CDEN, and CHDEN show a signifi7coafn1t5 improvement with satisfactory biocompatibility where the proliferation of V79-4 hamster lung cell remained above IC50 at 83%, 85%, and 80% viability, rIeCsp50e(chtiavlfelmy,auxipmtaol 1inmhigb/imtoLry

Summary

Introduction

Pesticide covers a wide range of agrochemicals including fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, nematicides, rodenticides, or plant growth regulators. The usage pattern of pesticides can be divided into insecticides (44%), herbicides (30%), fungicides (21%), and others (5%) [1]. The main benefits of using pesticides in crop management include crop productivity, to enhance yields, to protect from excessive loss, and to increase the quantity and quality of crop production [2]. Together with its known benefits, pesticides are inherently toxic to living organisms. Long-term or continuous exposure to pesticides via their application or substance residues (in food or drinking water) has potential negative impacts on human health [3]. Conventional agrochemicals are well documented to impart cytotoxic and genotoxic properties following continuous exposure to farmers and land-owners

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