ABSTRACT
The present work is related to the utilization of castor (Ricinus communis) seed cake, biowaste produced during the oil extraction of castor seeds, as efficient mosquitocidal composition against Aedes aegypti and Anopheles culicifacies. The efficacy of coil formulations was evaluated in the Peet Grady chamber and resulted in 90% and 100% knocked down and mortality against A. aegypti and A. Culicifacies, respectively. Further heavy metals' (Cr, Pb, Co, As, Cd, Cu, Mn, and Zn) analysis of the coil was performed using Inductively Coupled Plasma mass spectrometry and was compared with commercially available mosquito repellent coil. Heavy metal analysis revealed that commercial repellent coil had a higher content of heavy metals than the castor seed cake coil. Finding of the present research study indicates that castor seed cake coil has the potential to be used in mosquito vector control. Castor seed cake coil formulation will also open up avenues in future for sustainable utilization of the biowaste.
ABSTRACT
Chitosan nanocapsules, containing lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil (LGO), have been developed in gel form in which acrylate (Ac) was incorporated as a thickener and fabric binder. The gel was impregnated on fabric to achieve long-lasting and wash-durable mosquito repellency. The interaction between cotton fibers and gel was investigated by FTIR and XRD. Wash durability of gel was compared with chitosan nanocapsules without acrylate (LGO-encap) using SEM and GC-MS. The SEM analyses revealed that acrylate containing nanocapsules retains on fabric after a series of washing. The GC-MS results indicated that the relative amount of deducible oil components from fabric was found to be higher after the series of washing in acrylate containing nanocapsules (LGO-encap-Ac), which further points to the improved wash durability and retention of capsules on fabric. The bio-efficacy results of post-fifteen washing turned out was 75% of repellency against mosquitoes with the use of acrylate; while in nanocapsules without acrylate, only 51% of repellency was achieved. Furthermore, the 36 days repeated application of nanogel on Swiss albino mice did not show any signs of dermal toxicity. The formulation is, thus, suitable to impregnate dress of the military personals and individuals who have to perform field duty and where risk of mosquito bites is probably more.
Subject(s)
Acrylates/pharmacology , Chitosan/pharmacology , Culicidae/drug effects , Polyethylene Glycols/pharmacology , Polyethyleneimine/pharmacology , Skin/drug effects , Acrylates/chemistry , Animals , Chitosan/chemistry , Cotton Fiber , Female , Mice , Nanogels/chemistry , Particle Size , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Polyethyleneimine/chemistry , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
Hollow nanoshells of gold entrapping an enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), in the cavity of the nanoshell have been prepared in the reverse micelles by leaching out silver chloride (AgCl) from Au(shell)AgCl(core) nanoparticles with dilute ammonia solution. The particles have been characterised by dynamic laser light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron diffraction. The particle size is below 100 nm diameter, depending upon the size of the aqueous core of reverse micelles in which these particles have been prepared. This soft-chemical method for the preparation of such particles allows the entrapped enzyme to remain active inside the hollow gold nanoparticles. Small substrate molecules such as o-dianisidine can easily enter through the pores of the nanoshell and can undergo enzymatic oxidation by H2O2. The enzyme kinetics follows Michaelis-Menten mechanism. When the substrate is chemically conjugated with dextran molecule (10 kDa), the enzymatic reaction is practically completely prevented perhaps by the inability of dextran-o-dianisidine conjugate to penetrate the pores of the nanoshells. However, HRP did not show any activity when trapped inside solid gold nanoparticles.
Subject(s)
Gold/chemistry , Horseradish Peroxidase/chemistry , Nanostructures/chemistry , Nanotechnology/methods , Ammonia/chemistry , Crystallization , Dextrans/chemistry , Dianisidine/chemistry , Drug Compounding , Electrons , Enzymes/chemistry , Hydrogen Peroxide/chemistry , Kinetics , Light , Macromolecular Substances/chemistry , Micelles , Microscopy, Electron, Transmission , Models, Chemical , Nanotubes/chemistry , Particle Size , Scattering, Radiation , Silver Compounds/chemistry , Spectrophotometry , X-Ray DiffractionABSTRACT
Microemulsions are excellent candidates as potential drug delivery systems because of their improved drug solubilization, long shelf life, and ease of preparation and administration. The formulation of microemulsions for pharmaceutical use requires a thorough understanding of the properties, uses, and limitations of microemulsions. Three distinct microemulsions--oil external, water external, and middle phase--can be used for drug delivery, depending upon the type of drug and the site of action. In this article, we present an examination of microemulsions as drug carrier systems, starting with general information and moving to a thorough review of the microemulsion literature, with a special section devoted to microemulsion-based gels.
