EFFICACY OF BIMETALLIC COPPER-ZINC NANOPARTICLES AGAINST LARVAE OF MICROFILARIAE VECTOR IN LABORATORY

Savy P. Minal; Soam Prakash

Volume : VIII, Issue : II, February - 2019

EFFICACY OF BIMETALLIC COPPER-ZINC NANOPARTICLES AGAINST LARVAE OF MICROFILARIAE VECTOR IN LABORATORY

Savy P. Minal, Soam Prakash

Abstract :

The present study was conducted to test the larvicidal efficacy of Azardirachta indica (Neem) leaf extract mediated synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles. It is to control the mosquito vector population. The quantity of both precursor agents to synthesize bimetallic nanoparticles was assigned half in amount as designated for the synthesis of each monometallic nanoparticles forms. Characterization was performed via Microscan spectrophotometer and photomicrographs were obtained through TEM. Efficacy was conducted on 3^rd instar larvae of filariasis vector Culex quinquefasciatus (Say). Characterization results supported the formation of nanoparticles in the solution. Lethal concentration (LC₅₀) was recorded and found effective against selected mosquito larvae. For copper nanoparticles the LC₅₀for 3^rd instar larvae after 24h was recorded at 7% of the test concentration, after 48h it was at 3.5% and after 72h it was at 2%. However, the selected concentration of prepared zinc nanoparticles was not found effective against the selected larvae. For copper–zinc bimetallic nanoparticles the LC₅₀for 3^rd instar larvae after 24h was recorded at 7%, after 48h it was at 5% and after 72h it was at 4%. Conclusively, the efficacy of bimetallic nanoparticles showed drastic improvement over monometallic forms, no potential larvicidal activity of zinc nanoparticle test concentrations was observed at selected concentration range, but in combination with copper nanoparticles in an equal proportion i.e. half of the monometallic forms, were found efficient in larvicidal activity when compared with the activity of copper nanoparticles. This could be a possible new strategy to control filariasis in tropical countries where filariasis is abundant.