EONANOBIOPS partners joined hands-on laboratory in Catania, exploring innovative essential oil-based nanoformulations and strengthening Mediterranean cooperation for more sustainable tomato crop protection.
The second day of the First Annual Consortium Meeting of EONANOBIOPS, featured practical laboratory activities on preparing and characterising essential oil-based nanoformulations. These activities supported the project’s efforts to develop innovative and more sustainable solutions for crop protection.
The Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Catania (UNICT), a project partner and the host institution, welcomed researchers from the participating partner institutions (BERC, UNICT, ANNU, CBS, NTUA, and AUA) for joint laboratory training led by Prof. Serena Riela and her research team.
Clay-based formulations
Participants explored the preparation of clay-based nanosystems as carriers for essential oils. Activities included preparing gel formulations using hectorite and Laponite and demonstrating techniques for loading essential oils into halloysite nanotubes.
The sessions introduced formulation preparation and homogenisation procedures, alongside discussions on factors affecting stability and physicochemical properties. Participants also explored ways to optimise and standardise these procedures for application in their respective laboratories.
Analytical characterisation
The programme included demonstrations of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Participants learned about the principles of these techniques and their complementary roles in examining chemical structure and functional groups, investigating potential interactions between essential oils and carrier materials, and assessing thermal properties and stability.
β-Cyclodextrin-based formulations
Prof. Anastasia Detsi from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), together with her research team, provided hands-on training in preparing β-cyclodextrin-based formulations. This approach offers opportunities to encapsulate essential oil constituents, helping protect them and improve their stability for potential use in biopesticide formulations.
Connecting biological screening with formulation development
The training strengthened participants’ practical skills in nanoformulation preparation and characterisation while encouraging the exchange of knowledge among partner research teams. Discussions also explored how bioassay results from the first phase of the project could guide the selection of essential oils and the design of suitable carrier systems.
These activities marked an important step towards developing essential oil-based nanoformulations for subsequent evaluation of their stability, efficacy and safety against tomato pests and diseases.
Through Hands-on Joint Research and shared expertise, EONANOBIOPS is strengthening research capacities across its partner institutions and supporting the development of innovative solutions for more sustainable tomato crop protection.
Last Update
10/11/2026
Next Med