Pesticide Efficiency of Environment-Friendly Transition Metal-Doped Magnetite Nanoparticles.

This study explored the potential of Fe3O4, SnFe2O4, and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles as larvicidal and adulticidal agents against Aedes aegypti (A. aegypti) larvae and adults, which are vectors for various diseases. This research involved the synthesis of these nanoparticles using the coprecipitate method. The results indicate that CoFe2O4 nanoparticles are the most effective in both larvicidal and adulticidal activities, with complete mortality achieved after 96 h of exposure. SnFe2O4 nanoparticles also showed some larvicidal and adulticidal efficacy, although to a lesser extent than the CoFe2O4 nanoparticles. Fe3O4 nanoparticles exhibited minimal larvicidal and adulticidal effects at low concentrations but showed increased efficacy at higher concentrations. The study also revealed the superparamagnetic nature of these nanoparticles, making them potentially suitable for applications in aquatic environments, where A. aegypti larvae often thrive. Additionally, the nanoparticles induced observable damage to the gut structure of the mosquitoes and larvae, which could contribute to their mortality. Overall, this research suggests that CoFe2O4 nanoparticles, in particular, hold promise as environment-friendly and effective agents for controlling A. aegypti mosquitoes, which are responsible for the transmission of diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus, and Chikungunya. Further studies and field trials are needed to validate their practical use in mosquito control programs.

A Thermostable Crude Endoglucanase Produced by Aspergillus fumigatus in a Novel Solid State Fermentation Process Using Isolated Free Water.

Aspergillus fumigatus was grown on chopped wheat straw in a solid state fermentation (SSF) process carried out in constant presence of isolated free water inside the fermentation chamber. The system allowed maintaining a constant vapor pressure inside the fermentor throughout the fermentation process. Crude endoglucanase produced by A. fumigatus under such conditions was more thermostable than previously reported enzymes of the same fungal strain which were produced under different conditions and was also more thermostable than a number of other previously reported endoglucanases as well. Various thermostability parameters were calculated for the crude endoglucanase. Half lives (T(1/2)) of the enzyme were 6930, 866, and 36 min at 60°C, 70°C, and 80°C, respectively. Enthalpies of activation of denaturation (ΔH(D)*) were 254.04, 253.96, and 253.88 K J mole(-1), at 60°C, 70°C and 80°C, respectively, whereas entropies of activation of denaturation (ΔS(D)*) and free energy changes of activation of denaturation (ΔG(D)*) were 406.45, 401.01, and 406.07 J mole(-1) K(-1) and 118.69, 116.41, and 110.53 K J mole(-1) at 60°C, 70°C and 80°C, respectively.