Evaluation of plant-mediated synthesized silver nanoparticles against vector mosquitoes

Tiny Green Army: Fighting Malaria with Plants and Nanotechnology

Malaria poses a global threat to human health, with millions of cases and thousands of deaths each year, mainly affecting developing countries in tropical and subtropical regions. Malaria's causative agent is Plasmodium species, generally transmitted in the hematophagous act of female Anopheles sp. mosquitoes. The main approaches to fighting malaria are eliminating the parasite through drug treatments and preventing transmission with vector control. However, vector and parasite resistance to current strategies set a challenge. In response to the loss of drug efficacy and the environmental impact of pesticides, the focus shifted to the search for biocompatible products that could be antimalarial. Plant derivatives have a millennial application in traditional medicine, including the treatment of malaria, and show toxic effects towards the parasite and the mosquito, aside from being accessible and affordable. Its disadvantage lies in the type of administration because green chemical compounds rapidly degrade. The nanoformulation of these compounds can improve bioavailability, solubility, and efficacy. Thus, the nanotechnology-based development of plant products represents a relevant tool in the fight against malaria. We aim to review the effects of nanoparticles synthesized with plant extracts on Anopheles and Plasmodium while outlining the nanotechnology green synthesis and current malaria prevention strategies.

Mosquito-borne diseases in India over the past 50 years and their Global Public Health Implications: A Systematic Review

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) pose a significant public health concern globally, and India, with its unique eco-sociodemographic characteristics, is particularly vulnerable to these diseases. This comprehensive review aims to provide an in-depth overview of MBDs in India, emphasizing their impact and potential implications for global health. The article explores distribution, epidemiology, control or elimination, and economic burden of the prevalent diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and lymphatic filariasis, which collectively contribute to millions of cases annually. It sheds light on their profound effects on morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burdens and the potential for international transmission through travel and trade. The challenges and perspectives associated with controlling mosquito populations are highlighted, underscoring the importance of effective public health communication for prevention and early detection. The potential for these diseases to spread beyond national borders is recognized, necessitating a holistic approach to address the challenge. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, covering the past five decades (1972-2022), utilizing databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, in addition to in-person library consultations. The literature review analyzed 4,082 articles initially identified through various databases. After screening and eligibility assessment, 252 articles were included for analysis. The review focused on malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, and lymphatic filariasis. The included studies focused on MBDs occurrence in India, while those conducted outside India, lacking statistical analysis, or published before 1970 were excluded. This review provides valuable insights into the status of MBDs in India and underscores the need for concerted efforts to combat these diseases on both national and global scales through consilience.

Exploring the potential of antimalarial nanocarriers as a novel therapeutic approach

Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease that affects millions of people worldwide, especially in developing countries. Despite advances in conventional therapies, drug resistance in malaria parasites has become a significant concern. Hence, there is a need for a new therapeutic approach. To combat the disease effectively means eliminating vectors and discovering potent treatments. The nanotechnology research efforts in nanomedicine show promise by exploring the potential use of nanomaterials that can surmount these limitations occurring with antimalarial drugs, which include multidrug resistance or lack of specificity when targeting parasites directly. Utilizing nanomaterials would possess unique advantages over conventional chemotherapy systems by increasing the efficacy levels while reducing side effects significantly by delivering medications precisely within the diseased area. It also provides cheap yet safe measures against Malaria infections worldwide-ultimately improving treatment efficiency holistically without reinventing new methods therapeutically. This review is an effort to provide an overview of the various stages of malaria parasites, pathogenesis, and conventional therapies, as well as the treatment gap existing with available formulations. It explores different types of nanocarriers, such as liposomes, ethosomal cataplasm, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, polymeric nanocarriers, and metallic nanoparticles, which are frequently employed to boost the efficiency of antimalarial drugs to overcome the challenges and develop effective and safe therapies. The study also highlights the improved pharmacokinetics, enhanced drug bioavailability, and reduced toxicity associated with nanocarriers, making them a promising therapeutic approach for treating malaria.

Efficacy of metal nanoparticles as a control tool against adult mosquito vectors: A review

Presently, there is a need to develop effective and novel modes of control for mosquitoes, which remain a key driver of infectious disease transmission throughout the world. Control methods for these vectors have historically relied on a limited number of active ingredients (AIs) that have not experienced significant change in usage since the mid-20th century. The resulting development of widespread insecticide resistance has consequently increased the risk for future vector-borne disease outbreaks. Recently, metal nanoparticles have been explored for potential use in mosquito control due to their demonstrated toxicity against mosquitoes at all life stages. However, the majority of studies to date have focused on the larvicidal efficacy of metal nanoparticles with few studies examining their adulticidal potential. In this review, we analyze the current literature on green synthesized metal nanoparticles and their effect on adult mosquitoes.

The Role of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles in Antimicrobial Mechanisms

Nanotechnology is an area of science in which new materials are developed. The correlation between nanotechnology and microbiology is essential for the development of new drugs and vaccines. The main advantage of combining these areas is to associate the latest technology in order to obtain new ways for solving problems related to microorganisms. This review seeks to investigate nanoparticle formation's antimicrobial properties, primarily when connected to the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The development of new sustainable methods for nanoparticle production has been instrumental in designing alternative, non-toxic, energy-friendly, and environmentally friendly routes. In this sense, it is necessary to study silver nanoparticles' green synthesis concerning their antimicrobial properties. Antimicrobial silver nanoparticles' mechanisms demonstrate efficiency to gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. However, attention is needed with the emergence of resistance to these antimicrobials. This article seeks to relate the parameters of green silver- based nanosystems with the efficiency of antimicrobial activity.

Technologies for disinfection of food grains: Advances and way forward

Growing demand from the consumers for minimally processed and high-quality food products has raised the scientific quest for foods with improved natural flavours in conjunction with a restricted supplement of additives. In this context, achieving quality and safe food grains and the identification of suitable processing and disinfection technologies have also become the key issues. Microbial contamination is one of the major reasons responsible for the spoilage of food grains. Various sources of contamination such as air and water (both contaminated with dust and dirt), animals (insects, birds, rodents), environmental conditions (rainfall, drought, temperature), unhygienic handling, harvesting, processing equipment and improper storage conditions are responsible for the microbial spoilage of food grains. In order to maintain the food grains safe and un-contaminated, several food processing technologies have been explored and implemented, with the ultimate purpose of maintaining the safety, freshness and nutritional attributes of the food products. Among these technologies, microwave, radiofrequency, infrared, ohmic heating, novel drying methods along with non-thermal methods such as cold plasma, irradiation, ozonation and nanotechnology have attracted much attention because of considerable reduction in the overall processing time with minimum energy consumption. This review aims to discuss the advances involving the said technologies for controlling the microbial contamination of food grains in accordance with their inactivation. Current research status of the thermal and non-thermal emerging technologies for the preservation of food grains as well as perspectives for further research in this area are also elaborated in detail.

Botanical insecticide-based nanosystems for the control of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti larvae

Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti is a cosmopolitan species that transmits arbovirus of medical importance as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. The main strategy employed for the control of this mosquito is the use of larvicidal agents. However, the overuse of synthetic chemical larvicides has led to an increase in resistant insects, making management difficult. Therefore, the use of botanical insecticide-based nanosystems as an alternative to the use of synthetic agents for the control of Ae. aegypti has gained more considerable attention in the last years, mainly due to the advantages of nanostructured delivery systems, such as (a) controlled release; (b) greater surface area; (c) improvement of biological activity; (d) protection of natural bioactive agents from the environment and thus achieving stability; and (e) lipophilic drugs are easier dispersed even in aqueous vehicles. This review summarizes the current knowledge about botanical insecticide-based nanosystems as larvicidal against Ae. aegypti larvae. The majority of papers used metallic nanoparticles (NPs) as larvicidal agents, mainly silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), showing potential for their use as an alternative, followed by nanoemulsions containing vegetable oils, most essential oils, nanosystems that allow the dispersion of this high hydrophobic product in water, the environment of larval development. The final section describes scientific findings about the mode of action of these NPs, showing the gap about this subject in literature.

Comparison Between Insecticidal Activity of <i>Lantana camara</i> Extract and its Synthesized Nanoparticles Against Anopheline mosquitoes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Malaria is still a severe health problem especially in developing countries which occur and young children are the most affected. The present study was designed to compare the insecticidal potential of Lantana camara leaves extract alone and its synthesized nanoparticles against Anopheles multicolor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Copper nanoparticles CuNPs were synthesized by green bio-reduction method using aqueous extract of leaves of Lantana camara plant. The CuNPs formation was confirmed by ultraviolet visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS) and Transitional Electron Microscopy (TEM). The application of L. camara extract and its synthesized CuNPs on different stages of A. multicolor were adopted.

RESULTS

The biosynthesized CuNPs were spherical with the average sizes of 11-17.8 nm. The highest insecticidal effect (100% of larval mortality) achieved at high dose (140 ppm) of L. camara leaves extract alone comparing with that occur at low dose (20 ppm) of CuNPs synthesized L. camara leaves. The LC50 and LC90 for the 4 instar larvae were 63.5 and 119.9 ppm for plant extract alone compared to 12.6 and 18.4 ppm for CuNPs preparation.

CONCLUSION

So, this study proved that CuNPs preparation of L. camara leaves is highly efficient compared to the plant extract alone and more economic as less quantities were used. Also, awareness against invasion of Anopheles mosquito vectors with effective preventive measures to protect from malaria infection.

Mosquito control with green nanopesticides: towards the One Health approach? A review of non-target effects

The rapid spread of highly aggressive arboviruses, parasites, and bacteria along with the development of resistance in the pathogens and parasites, as well as in their arthropod vectors, represents a huge challenge in modern parasitology and tropical medicine. Eco-friendly vector control programs are crucial to fight, besides malaria, the spread of dengue, West Nile, chikungunya, and Zika virus, as well as other arboviruses such as St. Louis encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis. However, research efforts on the control of mosquito vectors are experiencing a serious lack of eco-friendly and highly effective pesticides, as well as the limited success of most biocontrol tools currently applied. Most importantly, a cooperative interface between the two disciplines is still lacking. To face this challenge, we have reviewed a wide number of promising results in the field of green-fabricated pesticides tested against mosquito vectors, outlining several examples of synergy with classic biological control tools. The non-target effects of green-fabricated nanopesticides, including acute toxicity, genotoxicity, and impact on behavioral traits of mosquito predators, have been critically discussed. In the final section, we have identified several key challenges at the interface between "green" nanotechnology and classic biological control, which deserve further research attention.

Green methods for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles using biogenic reducing agents: a review

Metal nanoparticles are being extensively used in a variety of sectors, including drug delivery, cancer treatment, wastewater treatment, DNA analysis, antibacterial agents, biosensors and catalysts. Unlike chemically produced nanoparticles, biosynthesized metal nanoparticles based on green chemistry perspectives impose limited hazards to the environment and are relatively biocompatible. This review is therefore focused on green methods for nanoparticle synthesis by emphasizing on microbial synthesis using bacteria, fungi, algae, and yeasts, as well as phytosynthesis using plant extracts. Furthermore, a detailed description of bioreducing and capping/stabilizing agents involved in the biosynthesis mechanism using these green sources is presented.

Recent advances in use of silver nanoparticles as antimalarial agents

Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases, which has become a great public health problem all over the world. Ineffectiveness of available antimalarial treatment is the main reason behind its menace. The failure of current treatment strategies is due to emergence of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum and drug toxicity in human beings. Therefore, the development of novel and effective antimalarial drugs is the need of the hour. Considering the huge biomedical applications of nanotechnology, it can be potentially used for the malarial treatment. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have demonstrated significant activity against malarial parasite (P. falciparum) and vector (female Anopheles mosquito). It is believed that AgNPs will be a solution for the control of malaria. This review emphasizes the pros- and cons of existing antimalarial treatments and in depth discussion on application of AgNPs for treatment of malaria. The role of nanoparticles for site specific drug delivery and toxicological issues have also been discussed.

Nanoparticles as potential new generation broad spectrum antimicrobial agents

The rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistant strains to conventional antimicrobial agents has complicated and prolonged infection treatment and increased mortality risk globally. Furthermore, some of the conventional antimicrobial agents are unable to cross certain cell membranes thus, restricting treatment of intracellular pathogens. Therefore, the disease-causing-organisms tend to persist in these cells. However, the emergence of nanoparticle (NP) technology has come with the promising broad spectrum NP-antimicrobial agents due to their vast physiochemical and functionalization properties. In fact, NP-antimicrobial agents are able to unlock the restrictions experienced by conventional antimicrobial agents. This review discusses the status quo of NP-antimicrobial agents as potent broad spectrum antimicrobial agents, sterilization and wound healing agents, and sustained inhibitors of intracellular pathogens. Indeed, the perspective of developing potent NP-antimicrobial agents that carry multiple-functionality will revolutionize clinical medicine and play a significant role in alleviating disease burden.

Tackling the growing threat of dengue: Phyllanthus niruri-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their mosquitocidal properties against the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Mosquitoes are vectors of devastating pathogens and parasites, causing millions of deaths every year. Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Recently, transmission has strongly increased in urban and semiurban areas, becoming a major international public health concern. Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) is the primary vector of dengue. The use of synthetic insecticides to control Aedes mosquitoes lead to high operational costs and adverse nontarget effects. In this scenario, eco-friendly control tools are a priority. We proposed a novel method to synthesize silver nanoparticles using the aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus niruri, a cheap and nontoxic material. The UV-vis spectrum of the aqueous medium containing silver nanostructures showed a peak at 420 nm corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance band of nanoparticles. SEM analyses of the synthesized nanoparticles showed a mean size of 30-60 nm. EDX spectrum showed the chemical composition of the synthesized nanoparticles. XRD highlighted that the nanoparticles are crystalline in nature with face-centered cubic geometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of nanoparticles exhibited prominent peaks 3,327.63, 2,125.87, 1,637.89, 644.35, 597.41, and 554.63 cm(-1). In laboratory assays, the aqueous extract of P. niruri was toxic against larval instars (I-IV) and pupae of A. aegypti. LC50 was 158.24 ppm (I), 183.20 ppm (II), 210.53 ppm (III), 210.53 ppm (IV), and 358.08 ppm (pupae). P. niruri-synthesized nanoparticles were highly effective against A. aegypti, with LC50 of 3.90 ppm (I), 5.01 ppm (II), 6.2 ppm (III), 8.9 ppm (IV), and 13.04 ppm (pupae). In the field, the application of silver nanoparticles (10 × LC50) lead to A. aegypti larval reduction of 47.6%, 76.7% and 100%, after 24, 48, and 72 h, while the P. niruri extract lead to 39.9%, 69.2 % and 100 % of reduction, respectively. In adulticidal experiments, P. niruri extract and nanoparticles showed LC50 and LC90 of 174.14 and 6.68 ppm and 422.29 and 23.58 ppm, respectively. Overall, this study highlights that the possibility to employ P. niruri leaf extract and green-synthesized silver nanoparticles in mosquito control programs is concrete, since both are effective at lower doses if compared to synthetic products currently marketed, thus they could be an advantageous alternative to build newer and safer tools against dengue vectors.