Development and evaluation of microparticles containing viable microorganisms used as bioinsecticide

Author(s)

Ana Lucia Santos Zimmermann

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2001-10-04

Examining board members

Newton Lindolfo Pereira; Vladi Olga Consiglieri; Osvaldo de Freitas; Terezinha de Jesus Andreoli Pinto; Maria Inês Ré

• Advisor: Newton Lindolfo Pereira

Abstract

The aim of this work was to develop powder formulations containing microparticles, to be used as multiparticulate delivery systems. Two different methods were investigated : 1) the preparation of microparticles by spray drying using casein, hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) and hydroxypropilmetilcellulose (HPMC) and 2) the preparation of calcium alginate and chitosan-alginate microparticles by using an atomizer device. Different experimental procedures to prepare calcium alginate and chitosanalginate microparticles were evaluated and variables beHeved to be important for the membrane formation were examined. The mean particles diarneter ranged from 60 to 553 µm. When a comparison was made between the surface morphology of calcium alginate and alginate-chitosan microparticles, remarkable roughness and more porous structure was observed in the chitosan-alginate microparticles. Some properties of the microparticles depended on the method and the procedure conditions of forming the chitosan-alginate complex. Calcium alginate and chitosan-alginate microparticles containing two different bioinsecticides were also prepared: 1) a spore/δ-endotoxinscomplex of Bacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki (Btk) and 2) polyhedra of Baculovirus anticarsia (Bv), a viral insecticide. The results shown that the encapsulation of suspensions of Btk containing spore/toxin complex or polyhedra of B. anticarcia in calcium alginate and chitosan-alginate microparticles did not decrease the larvicidal activity of these biopesticides against lepidopterous pests. The formulations developed in this study remained unchanged, did not swell, did not release the spores (Btk) or the polyhedra (Bv), when dispersed in water and could be useful to be applied by aqueous spray as bioinsecticides in agriculture. On the other hand, casein, HEC and HPMC microparticles prepared by spray drying were not suitable to encapsulate bioinsecticides because they dissolved fastly after dispersion in water. (AU)