According to a recent study published in Nature Communications, UNSW scientists are investigating nanomedicine to develop more affordable and environmentally friendly agrichemicals.
While working in the UNSW labs, Dr. Cong Vu had an idea: the tiny particles he was creating to deliver medications to cancer cells might have another potential use.
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I realized, why don’t we use the nanoparticles here to encapsulate pesticides for farmers?
Dr. Cong Vu, Adjunct Fellow, School of Chemistry, UNSW
Vu observed that the cancer medication he was using shared characteristics with herbicides. Like cancer medications, agrichemicals are potent substances that can be harmful if applied in the wrong place.
“We don’t want to overdose; we don’t want the residue, but at the same time, we need the chemical to reach and treat the problem,” said Dr. Cong Vu.
However, many agribusinesses are unable to afford the development of nanoparticles.
In 2021, Dr. Vu founded NanoSoils Bio, a UNSW-based company, with the aim of developing more affordable nano-agrochemicals using knowledge from nanomedicine.
The ultimate goal, according to Dr. Vu, an Adjunct Fellow at UNSW’s School of Chemistry, is to create products that improve the delivery of fungicides and pesticides, supporting cleaner and more sustainable farming.
In addition to insecticides, NanoSoils is working on a project to produce silica nanoparticles that will help cotton crops become more drought-resistant.
The company recently submitted its first two patent applications for methods to optimize nanoparticle efficiency.
Nanomedicine Grounds Growing Research
Research exploring the potential applications of nanoparticle designs—originally developed to combat cancer—serves as the foundation for Dr. Vu’s work.
Vu explained how design concepts from nanomedicine, such as altering the size, surface, and composition of nanoparticles containing cancer medications, can be applied to target and deliver agrichemicals in plants.
The importance of this crossover is highlighted by Professor Justin Gooding, former supervisor and co-author of the study.
According to Prof. Gooding, nanomedicine has more than twice as many publications and patents as nano-agriculture.
We’ve demonstrated that we can get nanoparticles of different shapes to target diseased cells more effectively than healthy ones. For example, rod-shaped particles tend to be more successful at translocating through cells than spherical ones.
Justin Gooding, Professor, Former Supervisor and Study Co-Author, UNSW
Insights from nanomedicine have the potential to reduce costs, which is the primary obstacle to innovation in nano-agrochemicals.
Rather than starting from Ground Zero, Dr. Vu is leveraging what we already know to address pressing issues in agriculture and for the environment.
Justin Gooding, Professor, Former Supervisor and Study Co-Author, UNSW
Seeds of Inspiration
Dr. Vu claims that growing up in an agricultural area in Vietnam is partly the reason for the enthusiasm for sustainable agriculture.
“When pesticides are sprayed, more than 90 % of the chemical leaks into the environment. We need to control how pesticides are delivered to pests so that we minimize harm to beneficial species like bees,” explained Dr. Vu.
Prof. Gooding highlights that diversity in science plays a crucial role in discovery. “Different experiences bring different perspectives,” said Prof. Gooding.
“Being part of a university fosters collaboration among people from all backgrounds, creating an environment where new ideas can thrive,” said Prof. Gooding.
Journal Reference:
Vu Thanh, C., et al. (2025) Learning lessons from nano-medicine to improve the design and performances of nano-agrochemicals. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57650-8
