Repellency and larvicidal efficacy of cymene and myrcene-loaded nano-formulations against resistant and non-resistant Aedes aegypti L.

• Grant number: 21/11487-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Marlus Chorilli
• Grantee: Jonatas Lobato Duarte
• Supervisor: Vincent Corbel
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Institute de Recherche pour le Développement, Occitanie (IRD), France
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/25125-7 - Nanoemulsions containing terpenes as potentials larvicides and repellents against Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762), BP.DR

Abstract

Aedes (Stegomya) aegypti L. is an insect of great medical importance because it can transmit several arboviruses to humans including yellow fever, dengue, zika, and chikungunya. The main ways to prevent arbovirus transmission are the use of repellents that provide physical protection and insecticides that eliminate insect larvae directly in the breeding sites. Unfortunately, mosquito resistance to the most conventionally used insecticide molecules has been reported and, it represents a threat to the effectiveness of vector control programs. Medicinal plant derivatives have been used since immemorial times as insecticides and repellents, especially essential oils (EO). The constituents of EO are terpenes, mainly monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes, low molecular weight substances. Among the terpenes with insecticide and repellent action, myrcene and p-cymene are highlighted. However, they present low water solubility and high volatility, characteristics that make their use limited. Thus, nanotechnology emerges as a strategy to improve the solubility of these substances in water, in addition to the optimized protection and delivery of these molecules. Among the nanostructured systems, there are nanoemulsions, i.e. dispersions of oily droplets stabilized by a surfactant in water. These systems allow the delivery of biomolecules, improve absorption, and allow the suspension of lipophilic drugs in aqueous media. In this way, the objective of this project is to investigate the potential of monoterpenes loaded nanoemulsion and nanohydrogels against resistant and non-resistant Aedes. The Larvicidal and repellent activities will be investigated in the laboratory using susceptible and resistant Ae aegypti colonies. It is expected from this project to develop promising formulations with high potential for the control and prevention of Aedes transmitted diseases. (AU)