Sonication-Assisted Production of Fosetyl-Al Nanocrystals: Investigation of Human Toxicity and In Vitro Antibacterial Efficacy against <i>Xylella fastidiosa</i>
Francesca Baldassarre,
Giuseppe Tatulli,
Viviana Vergaro,
Stefania Mariano,
Valeria Scala,
Concetta Nobile,
Nicoletta Pucci,
Luciana Dini,
Stefania Loreti,
Giuseppe Ciccarella
Affiliations
Francesca Baldassarre
Biological and Environmental Sciences Department, UdR INSTM of Lecce University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Giuseppe Tatulli
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification of Rome, 00156 Rome, Italy
Viviana Vergaro
Biological and Environmental Sciences Department, UdR INSTM of Lecce University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Stefania Mariano
Biological and Environmental Sciences Department, University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Valeria Scala
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification of Rome, 00156 Rome, Italy
Concetta Nobile
Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR NANOTEC, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Nicoletta Pucci
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification of Rome, 00156 Rome, Italy
Luciana Dini
Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR NANOTEC, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Stefania Loreti
Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification of Rome, 00156 Rome, Italy
Giuseppe Ciccarella
Biological and Environmental Sciences Department, UdR INSTM of Lecce University of Salento, Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Recently, there is a growing demand in sustainable phytopathogens control research. Nanotechnology provides several tools such as new pesticides formulations, antibacterial nanomaterials and smart delivery systems. Metal nano-oxides and different biopolymers have been exploited in order to develop nanopesticides which can offer a targeted solution minimizing side effects on environment and human health. This work proposed a nanotechnological approach to obtain a new formulation of systemic fungicide fosetyl-Al employing ultrasonication assisted production of water dispersible nanocrystals. Moreover, chitosan was applicated as a coating agent aiming a synergistic antimicrobial effect between biopolymer and fungicide. Fosetyl-Al nanocrystals have been characterized by morphological and physical-chemical analysis. Nanotoxicological investigation was carried out on human keratinocytes cells through cells viability test and ultrastructural analysis. In vitro planktonic growth, biofilm production and agar dilution assays have been conducted on two Xylella fastidiosa subspecies. Fosetyl-Al nanocrystals resulted very stable over time and less toxic respect to conventional formulation. Finally, chitosan-based fosetyl-Al nanocrystals showed an interesting antibacterial activity against Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca and Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa.
