Fig. 10

Schematic representation of the SAP conjugate. The SAP has three extending arms made up of a hydrophilic polyethelene glycol (PEG) chain, a lipophilic lauryl chain and an amphiphobic agrochemical active. Green cylindroids represent the self-assembling SAP conjugates. In water, SAP self-assembles to a micellar phase, which when spray applied to plant leaf surfaces and upon the evaporation of water, quickly reorients to form an inverse micellar phase. Extending arms of SAP promote easy transition between the phases and help maintain the colloidal stability of the formulation. With an intact four nm internal nano-structure (indicated by spacing between cylindroids), SAP strongly adsorbs on to hydrophobic surfaces even in the absence of surfactants