Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles like Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (IONPs) hold the fundamental class in nanotechnology owing to their novel properties such as magnetism, biocompatibility, easy surface modification and encapsulation, uptake efficiency and release. Their interdisciplinary nature can be judged from the fact that it has also been applied in agriculture with the main purpose to increase productivity and improve nutrient use. Novel Fe2O3 nanoparticles are biocompatible and when efficiently surface coated showed enhanced antimicrobial activity against gram positive as well as gram negative bacteria. This review focuses on the potentials of IONPs as a competitive substitute of pesticides with high antimicrobial activity against a wide range of plant pathogens along with low negative impacts on the environment. Iron oxide nano formulations along with pesticides will be effective against the bacterial as well as fungal diseases of the rice plant.

Keywords: Nanoparticles; SPIONs; Biotherapeutics; Pesticides; Cytotoxicity