Role of Nanotechnology in Insect Pest Management: Innovations, Challenges and Future Prospects

Abstract

The escalating demand for global food security is increasingly threatened by insect pests, which are responsible for an estimated 20-40% of annual crop losses worldwide. Excessive dependence on conventional chemical pesticides has generated severe collateral consequences, including the evolution of resistance in more than 600 arthropod species, environmental contamination, and substantial risks to human health and biodiversity. Nanotechnology defined as the manipulation of materials at the nanoscale (1–100 nm) has emerged as a transformative approach to mitigate these challenges. Owing to their distinctive physicochemical attributes, such as high surface-area-to-volume ratio, enhanced reactivity, and tunable surface functionality, nanomaterials enable the development of advanced pest-management tools, including nano-pesticides, smart delivery platforms (nano-encapsulates, nanoemulsions, and nanogels), and precision biosensors. These innovations enhance solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of active ingredients, allowing controlled release kinetics, reduced application rates, and minimized environmental burden. This review critically examines the contemporary landscape of nanotechnology in insect pest management, tracing the historical evolution of pesticide use, outlining fundamental principles of nanomaterial synthesis and characterization, and presenting a systematic classification of nano-formulations with their underlying mechanisms of action. It further consolidates recent advances in field and post-harvest applications, evaluates the integration of nanosystems in pest surveillance and precision agriculture, and provides a balanced appraisal of environmental and human toxicological implications. Additionally, the review analyzes emerging regulatory frameworks, commercialization barriers, and future research directions, emphasizing that responsible and evidence-based innovation in nano-agriculture is essential for the development of sustainable, efficient, and resilient Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.