The overall purpose of this suggestion is to control plant endopathogens such as liberibacter asiaticus and xyllela fastidiosa

Baylor University received a $228,637 Cooperative Agreement awarded on September 30, 2025, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025). The agreement, with a completion date of September 29, 2026, funds research to develop nano-enabled delivery systems for controlling plant endopathogens, specifically Liberibacter asiaticus and Xylella fastidiosa, which cause economically significant crop diseases. Baylor will synthesize and characterize nanoliposome-based nano-delivers (ND)—submicron bilayer lipid vesicles designed to withstand environmental exposure and penetrate plant cuticles following foliar spray application.

The research deliverables include engineered nanoparticles capable of aerosolization and cuticle translocation, as well as optimized "click" chemistry techniques to functionalize nanoparticles and tether them into therapeutic assemblies for targeted pathogen treatment. By developing these nano-therapeutic constructs, the project addresses the critical challenge of low therapeutic delivery efficacy to internally residing pathogens while minimizing environmental release of active agents. This innovation directly supports APHIS's mission to protect U.S. agriculture from economically injurious plant diseases through advanced detection, prevention, and control methodologies.

These pathogens reside within the plant, making IT difficult to apply treatments. The therapeutics must withstand environmental exposure during delivery, such as spraying, and surpass plant defenses like the leaf cuticle to encounter the pathogen. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of therapeutic delivery to the affected area is low, which poses a complex issue for researchers and growers striving to protect plants. Nanoliposomes can treat pathogens in plants by delivering therapeutics. Nanoliposomes, or submicron bilayer lipid vesicles, are a new technology for encapsulating and delivering bioactive agents. The list of bioactive materials that can be incorporated into nanoliposomes is immense, ranging from pharmaceuticals to nutraceuticals. This approach avoids degradation and allows treatments to be delivered right to the site of infection. Using engineered nanoliposomes as molecular carriers minimizes the amount of therapeutic released into the environment while maximizing the impact on plant health. For this award the recipient will perform experiments to achieve the following goals and objectives: goal 1. Identify a nano-enabled particle capable of improving the delivery of nano-therapeutic constructs, particularly at the stage of crossing the plant cuticle after foliar spray application. Objective 1. Synthesize and characterize nanoparticles, such as rod-like shaped materials, capable of aerosolization, deposition onto the leaf surface, and translocation across the cuticle. These nanoparticles will be termed nano-delivers (ND). Goal 2. Develop and optimize 'click' chemistry to tether the nanoparticles into one entity. Objective 2. Synthesize and characterize NDS with surface functionalization designed to associate with HLB-relevant nano-therapeutic constructs. These nanoparticle assemblies will be termed HLB nano-therapies nano-delivers (NTNDS). Goal 3. Ensure the nanoparticles are still functional, i.e., antibacterial efficacy and delivery across plant cuticle. Objective 3. Measure the functionality of NTNDS in terms of antimicrobial properties. Objective 4. Measure the functionality of NTNDS in terms of penetrating plant cuticles. Deliverables will include: 1. Nano-enabled particles capable of improved the delivery of nano-therapeutic constructs, particularly at the stage of crossing plant cuticle after foliar spray application. 2. Description of physicochemical characteristics of the functional nanoparticle system, including the critical quality attributes needed for field testing. 3. Protocol to produce a proto-typical nano-therapeutic construct that is ready to use in field testing. 4. Protocol to implement 'click' chemistry to tether the nanoparticles into one entity. The methodology will be used as a framework for additional functional assays for USDA drug discovery effects. 5. Report on functionality of nanoparticles, i.e., antibacterial efficacy and delivery across plant cuticle, after clicked together. This project will benefit the citrus industry directly and eventually holds the potential to benefit any crop industry affected by V ascular-bound and vector-transmitted plant pathogens. This approach will provide commercial citrus growers a strategy to suppress plant pathogens in mature trees. No subawards are planned.