Clove oil-loaded zein nanoparticles as potential bioinsecticide agent with low toxicity

Author(s):Show less -

Saraiva, Nariani Rocha ^[1] ; Roncato, Juliana Foletto Fredo ^[1] ; Pascoli, Monica ^[2] ; Macedo e Sousa, Joao Marcos Fonseca ^[1] ; Windberg, Jr., Luiz Felipe ^[1] ; Rossatto, Fernanda Cristina Possamai ^[3] ; Soares, Jefferson de Jesus ^[4] ; Denardin, Elton Luis Gasparotto ^[4] ; Puntel, Robson Luiz ^[1] ; Zimmer, Karine Rigon ^[3] ; Fraceto, Leonardo Fernandes ^[2] ; Avila, Daiana Silva ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Pampa, Programa Posgrad Bioquim, Grp Pesquisa Bioquim & Toxicol Caenorhabditis Ele, BR-97500970 Uruguaiana, RS - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP Julio Mesquita Filho, Inst Ciencia & Tecnol Sorocaba, Lab Nanotecnol Ambiental, Av Tres Marco, 511, Alto, Boa Vista, BR-18087180 Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Ciencias Saude Porto Alegre, Lab Biofilmes & Modelos Alternativos BioMod, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Pampa, Lab Estudos Fisicoquim & Produtos Nat LEFQPN, Campus Uruguaiana, BR-97508000 Uruguaiana, RS - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACY; v. 24, DEC 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The demand for the development of environmentally sustainable, low-cost and controlled-release bioinsecticides for crop protection is emerging. To that end, we have developed biodegradable zein nanoparticles (NP) loaded with clove oil (CO) or its major compound eugenol (EU), which have been widely reported by their insecticide activities. However, the safety and efficacy of these newly developed NPs is unknown. To evaluate the environmental safety of these NPs we have used the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a non-target organism. We observed that EU and CO NPs displayed low toxicity to these worms at all endpoints analyzed. We have evidenced a significative insectide activity of both EU and CO-loaded NPs against Drosophila melanogaster, with a higher potential in comparison to the free essential oils. These results suggest that EU and CO nanoencapsulation using zein as biopolymer is promising for further studies aiming the production of eco-friendly botanical insecticides for crop protection. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/21004-5 - Agriculture, micro/nanotechnology and environment: from evaluation of the mechanisms of action to studies of transport and toxicity
• Grantee: Leonardo Fernandes Fraceto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/17120-4 - Toxicity evaluation and biological activity of zein nanoparticles containing the biocide azadirachtin
• Grantee: Mônica Pascoli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate