Foliar treatment, the application of nutrients, protectants, and biostimulants directly onto the leaves of plants, has gained prominence as an effective agricultural practice. This method presents several advantages over traditional soil applications, such as targeted application, rapid uptake, avoiding soil dependency, enhanced efficiency, minimizing waste, and reducing the overall quantity of required treatment.

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Despite the clear advantages of foliar treatment, its application remains challenging because of the cuticular barrier. The leaf cuticle, which consists primarily of cutin and waxes, serves as a protective barrier against water loss and pathogen invasion. This same barrier disturbs the penetration of nutrients, protectants, and biostimulants.

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Developing formulations that facilitate trans-cuticular delivery without causing phytotoxicity is a highly desired task. Surfactants, penetrants, and the appropriate solvent system are used for enhancing foliar absorption, however, it is difficult to ensure that the leaf's physiological functions remain unharmed. Once the challenges of transcultural delivery are addressed, the use of foliar applications can become a powerful tool in modern agricultural practices, contributing to improved crop health and productivity.

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In our lab, we are developing delivery vehicles based on modified polysaccharides and glycosides. The main feature of these vehicles is a soft dynamic structure and the ability of reassembly to adjust various guests and environments. Therefore these vehicles can pass biological barriers and  transport treatment molecules 

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