Permethrin, a poorly water-soluble synthetic pesticide belonging to the pyrethroid family, was formulated into water-dispersive nanometric form by rapid evaporation of pesticide loaded oil-in-water microemulsion. The mean hydrodynamic diameter of Nanopermethrin was found to be 199.01 ± 1.4 nm. The efficacy of the Nanopermethrin was comparatively investigated with its bulk form against 2-3 days old adult mosquitoes by WHO cone bioassay for 60 min. The median knockdown concentration of Culex tritaeniorhynchus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus were found to be 7.20 × 10(4), 7.53 × 10(4), 0.42 × 10(3) mg/L for Bulk permethrin, and 0.98 × 10(4), 1.17 × 10(4), 0.05 × 10(3) mg/L for Nanopermethrin, respectively. The obtained results extrapolate the improved efficacy of Nanopermethrin even at low-level concentrations. Hence, the formulated Nanopermethrin will serve as an effective alternative pesticide in controlling the mosquito population with reduced environmental toxicity.

Amitava Mukherjee

Centre for Nanobiotechnology

Vellore Campus

Chandra Sekaran N

Balaji A.P.B

Mishra P

Suresh Kumar R.S

Ashu A

Margulis K

Magdassi S

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) is a private university located in&nbsp;Tamil Nadu, India. Founded in 1984, as Vellore Engineering College, the institution offers 20 undergraduate, 34 postgraduate, four integrated and four research programs. It has campuses in Vellore, Amravati, Bhopal and Chennai.

VIT is one of the top ranked private universities in India according to NIRF, THE and QS Rankings.&nbsp;Govt. of India has recognized&nbsp;VIT, Vellore as an&nbsp;Institution of Eminence. This has allowed VIT to take independent quality initiatives and move up in world ranking.

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VIT University

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

The rising threat of vector-borne diseases and environmental pollution has instigated the investigation of nanotechnology-based applications. The current study deals with a nanotechnological application involving the usage of nanometric pesticides such as permethrin nanoemulsion. The mean droplet diameter and zeta potential of the prepared permethrin nanoemulsion were found to be 12.4 ± 1.13 nm and -20.4 ± 0.56 mV, respectively. The temporal stability of permethrin nanoemulsion was found to be 4 days when checked in the external environment. The permethrin nanoemulsion exhibited LC50 values of 0.038 and 0.047 mgL-1 and 0.049 and 0.063 mgL-1 against larval and pupal stages of Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Aedes aegypti, respectively. The results obtained from the larvicidal and pupicidal assay were corroborated with the histopathological and biochemical profiles of hosts upon treatment with nanometric pesticide. Further, the biosafety studies of the nanopesticide were carried out against different non-target species like freshwater algae (Closterium), Cicer arietinum (Chickpea) and Danio rerio (Zebrafish), and the mosquitocidal concentration of nanopesticide was found to be non-toxic. The following study, therefore, describes the mosquitocidal efficacy of nanometric pesticide formulated in a greener approach, which can become a substitute for conventional pesticide application in an eco-benign manner.

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

Enhanced mosquitocidal efficacy of colloidal dispersion of pyrethroid nanometric emulsion with benignity towards non-target species

Mosquitoes, being a vector for some potentially dreadful diseases, pose a considerable threat to people all around the world. The control over the growth and propagation of mosquitoes comprises conventional pesticides, insect growth regulators and other microbial control agents. However, the usage of these common chemicals and conventional pesticides eventually has a negative impact on human health as well as the environment, which therefore becomes a major concern. The lacuna allows nanotechnology to come into action and exploit nanopesticides. Nanopesticides are majorly divided into two categories—synthetic and biological. Several nanoformulations serve as a promising nanopesticide viz. nanoparticles, e.g. biologically synthesised nanoparticles through plant extracts, nanoemulsions prepared using the essential oils like neem oil and citronella oil and nanoemulsion of conventional pesticides like pyrethroids. These green approaches of synthesising nanopesticides make use of non-toxic and biologically derived compounds and hence are eco-friendly with a better target specificity. Even though there are numerous evidences to show the effectiveness of these nanopesticides, very few efforts have been made to study the possible non-target effects on other organisms prevalent in the aquatic ecosystem. This study focuses on the role of these nanopesticides towards the vector control and its eco-safe property against the other non-target species. © 2017, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany.

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Biological nanopesticides: a greener approach towards the mosquito vector control

The current eco-toxicological problem occurring world-wide as a result of the heavy usage of hazardous engineered nanomaterials has driven the invention or use of materials that are eco-safe. Nanomaterials prepared with an eco-safe approach provide a remedy for this problem. These engineered nanoparticles have a very small size range, which makes them both promising and challenging - a "two-edged sword." These nanoparticles are useful in product development, which is applicable in several fields. The properties of these nano-sized particles that make them a useful tool (e.g., shape, size, high reactivity), simultaneously make them a cause for concern in nature, resulting in ill-effects towards the environment. Bio-based nanoparticles are a better option with potent application properties and lower eco-toxicity influence. Bio-based nanoemulsions are an example of a bio-based nanomaterial. Nanoemulsions comprise an oil and aqueous phase mixed with a surfactant. A nanoemulsion can include nanoparticles ranging in size between 20 and 200 nm. The nanometric size of these emulsions allows for a wide range of applications in, for example, the pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics, and agriculture. Their bio-based approach to formulation makes them economical and eco-friendly. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. All Rights Reserved.

Handbook of Ecomaterials

Bio-Based Nanoemulsions: An Eco-Safe Approach Towards the Eco-Toxicity Problem

Lymphatic Filariasis

Nanopesticides: A Boon Towards the Control of Dreadful Vectors of Lymphatic Filariasis

AbstractThe occurrence of pesticidal pollution in the environment and the resistance in the mosquito species makes an urge for the safer and an effective pesticide. Permethrin, a poorly water-soluble pyrethroid pesticide, was formulated into a hydrodispersible nanopowder through rapid solvent evaporation of pesticide-loaded oil in water microemulsion. Stability studies confirmed that the nanopermethrin dispersion was stable in paddy field water for 5 days with the mean particle sizes of 175.3 ± 0.75 nm and zeta potential of −30.6 ± 0.62 mV. The instability rate of the nanopermethrin particles was greater in alkaline (pH 10) medium when compared with the neutral (pH 7) and acidic (pH 4) dispersion medium. The colloidal dispersion at 45°C was found to be less stable compared with the dispersions at 25 and 5°C. The 12- and 24-h lethal indices (LC50) for nanopermethrin were found to be 0.057 and 0.014 mg l−1, respectively. These results were corroborative with the severity of damages observed in the mosquito larvae manifested in epithelial cells and the evacuation of the midgut contents. Further, the results were substantiated by the decrease in cellular biomolecules and biomarker enzyme activity in nanopermethrin treated larvae when compared to bulk and control treatment.

Bulletin of Entomological Research

Stability of nano-sized permethrin in its colloidal state and its effect on the physiological and biochemical profile of Culex tritaeniorhynchus larvae

The utilization of increased dosage of insect repellents to overcome mosquito resistance has raised environmental concerns globally. In accord to this, we have formulated an efficacious, water-dispersive, nanometric formulation of a poor water-soluble insect repellent, diethylphenylacetamide (DEPA) by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) polymerization followed by PIT emulsification method. The critical micelle concentration of PEG in the spontaneously emulsified conventional DEPA droplets was determined, based on the droplets physical stability. Subjecting them to PIT emulsification yielded monodispersed polymeric nanomicelles of DEPA (Nano DEPA) with hydrodynamic mean diameter of 153.74. nm. The high-resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies revealed the characteristic core-shell structure of micelle. The comparative efficacy of Bulk DEPA and Nano DEPA was evaluated by larvicidal and WHO cone bioassay against the Japanese encephalitis vector Culex tritaeniorhynchus. The median lethal concentrations (48. h) for 3rd instars C. tritaeniorhynchus larvae were found to be 0.416. mg/L for Bulk DEPA and 0.052. mg/L for Nano DEPA, respectively. The median knockdown concentrations (60. min) for the two to three-day-old, sucrose-fed, female adult mosquitoes were 5.372% (v/v) and 3.471% (v/v) for Bulk and Nano DEPA, respectively. Further investigation by histopathological and biochemical studies propound that Nano DEPA exerted better bioefficacy as comparative to its bulk form even at minimal exposure concentrations. Hence, Nano DEPA will serve as an effective alternate in controlling the vector expansion with reduced dosage. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

Nanoformulation of poly(ethylene glycol) polymerized organic insect repellent by PIT emulsification method and its application for Japanese encephalitis vector control

Pesticides are an essential tool in integrated pest management. Nanopermethrin was prepared by solvent evaporation from an oil-in-water volatile microemulsion. The efficacy of the formulated nanopermethrin was tested against Aedes aegypti and the results compared to those of regular, microparticular permethrin. The 24 h LC50 for nanopermethrin and permethrin was found to be 0. 0063 and 0. 0199 mg/L, respectively. The formulated nanopermethrin was tested for toxicity against non-target organisms. Nanopermethrin did not show antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (ATCC 13534 and 25922) or against Bacillus subtilis. Phytotoxicity studies of nanopermethrin to the seeds of Lycopersicum esculentum, Cucumis sativus, and Zea mays showed no restraint in root length and germination percentage. In the Allium cepa test, regular microparticular permethrin treatment of 0. 13 mg/L showed a mitotic index (MI) of 46. 8 % and chromosomal aberration of 0. 6 %, which was statistically significant (p &lt; 0. 05) compared to control. No significant differences were observed in 0. 13 mg/L nanopermethrin exposure as compared to control (MI of 52. 0 and 55. 03 % and chromosomal aberration of 0. 2 and 0 %, respectively). It was concluded that formulated nanopermethrin can be used as a safe and effectual alternative to commercially available permethrin formulation in agricultural practices. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.

Distinctive effects of nano-sized permethrin in the environment

The formulation of water dispersible nanopermethrin was investigated for its larvicidal property. Nanopermethrin was prepared using solvent evaporation of oil in water microemulsion, which was obtained by mixing an organic and aqueous phase. The mean particle size of nanodispersion in water was 151±27nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of nanopermethrin showed it was amorphous. Larvicidal studies were carried out against Culex quinquefasciatus and the results were compared with bulk permethrin. The LC50 of nanopermethrin to Cx quinquefasciatus was 0.117mg/L. The LC50 of bulk permethrin to Cx quinquefasciatus was 0.715mg/L. Nanopermethrin may be a good choice as a potent and selective larvicide for Cx. quinquefasciatus. © 2010 Elsevier Inc.

Formulation of water-dispersible nanopermethrin for larvicidal applications

PLOS ONE

Nets versus spraying: A spatial modelling approach reveals indoor residual spraying targets Anopheles mosquito habitats better than mosquito nets in Tanzania

Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology

Nanopesticides: State of Knowledge, Environmental Fate, and Exposure Modeling

The Environmentally Benign form of Pesticide in Hydrodispersive Nanometric form with Improved Efficacy Against Adult Mosquitoes at Low Exposure Concentrations

Journal	Data powered by TypesetBulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
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ISSN	0007-4861
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