Eco-friendly larvicidal agent from combined plant extracts encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles to combat dengue mosquitoes

Eco-friendly larvicidal agent from combined plant extracts encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles to combat dengue mosquitoes | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Eco-friendly larvicidal agent from combined plant extracts encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles to combat dengue mosquitoes susanthi Jayasinghe, Madhawa P Nawarathne, Priyanka De Silva This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4321606/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 10 Jul, 2025 Read the published version in International Journal of Tropical Insect Science → Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Considering reduced environmental impact and high specificity in targeting vector organisms, the use of plant-based insecticides for dengue mosquito control is crucial in dengue disease management. We investigated the larvicidal efficacy of hot water, cold water, and water-acetone extracts of combined plant extracts of Capsicum frutescens (Naimiris) and Allium sativum (Garlic) against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus larvae. The plant extract encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles were also assessed for larvicidal potential. Chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized via the ionic gelation method, employing an optimized formulation comprising 2.5% chitosan and 1.5% sodium tripolyphosphate, with stirring at 1500 rpm. The most effective plant extract was encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles, subsequently packaged into commercially viable sachets. The water-acetone extract showed the highest larval mortality, resulting the lowest LD 50 values (2051.01 and 1097.69 mg L -1 after 24 and 48 hours of exposure, respectively), while showing the significant synergistic activity (CI < 1). Nanoparticle characterization was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, revealing a nanoparticle diameter ranging from 350 to 450 nm. Approximately 96.10 ± 2.77% of combined plant mixture's water-acetone extract was successfully encapsulated within nanoparticles, with 90% of encapsulated plant extract released into the medium over a 14-day period. Semi-permeable sachet packets containing 6 g of encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles showed strong larvicidal activity for 10 days, with shelf life up to six months. These findings suggest that chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating a combination of Capsicum frutescens and Allium sativum extracts hold promise as eco-friendly larvicides against dengue vectors. Allium sativum Capsicum frutescens Chitosan nanoparticles Dengue Encapsulation Full Text Supplementary Files Graphicalabstract1.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 10 Jul, 2025 Read the published version in International Journal of Tropical Insect Science → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Minor revisions 03 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Mar, 2025 Editor invited by journal 14 Feb, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Sep, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 26 Apr, 2024 First submitted to journal 24 Apr, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4321606","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":348337430,"identity":"4da08ef6-3b70-4a28-be8a-5e712aa44e34","order_by":0,"name":"susanthi Jayasinghe","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA+ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYPCCAzyM7Q0MDAkMDIwNYIGCBAI6EoBaeg4gazEgrIWBQQKiiLAW+RnpDz8X/rgjwzzz+cMPDxjuyG5nYH74gcEgDacWgxs5xtIzEp7xMM7OMQZa9Mx4ZwObsQSDQQ5uLRI5DNI8CYdBWtiAfjmcuOEAgxlQvAKfwx7/BmuZefwZVAv7N7xaGG4kmEFsmQE0HKKFB2QLHoedeWNmzZMG1NID8ovBM+MNh3mKgQzc3pdvT398m8fmsL1h+/GHH39U3JHdcLx944cPFcm4HQYDhg1gSw8wMDAzgOOUMJCHUAeIUTsKRsEoGAUjDAAA7+JVYcPV5vEAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7964-2596","institution":"University of Peradeniya Faculty of Science","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"susanthi","middleName":"","lastName":"Jayasinghe","suffix":""},{"id":348337431,"identity":"b11ef1a5-5aaf-4226-a69f-66ede22a1aa5","order_by":1,"name":"Madhawa P Nawarathne","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Peradeniya Faculty of Science","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Madhawa","middleName":"P","lastName":"Nawarathne","suffix":""},{"id":348337432,"identity":"996c0f83-22ec-448e-873b-33dd3be2ef22","order_by":2,"name":"Priyanka De Silva","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Peradeniya Faculty of Science","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Priyanka","middleName":"","lastName":"De Silva","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-04-25 05:05:56","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4321606/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4321606/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-025-01570-z","type":"published","date":"2025-07-10T15:57:29+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":86699359,"identity":"84989487-6ec5-4447-a0f1-c28bf9a511c1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-07-14 16:08:16","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":581640,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ResearchPaper20240422IJTIS.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4321606/v1_covered_16aaa8b5-294d-4189-b457-2f2b51b2a367.pdf"},{"id":65811978,"identity":"c36c4879-ca88-4c00-bd49-2e56c746982f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-10-03 04:34:25","extension":"docx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":86490,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Graphicalabstract1.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4321606/v1/51fc5be823856b6397878496.docx"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Eco-friendly larvicidal agent from combined plant extracts encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles to combat dengue mosquitoes","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":true,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jtis","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Tropical Insect Science](http://link.springer.com/journal/42690)","snPcode":"42690","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jtis/default2.aspx","title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Allium sativum, Capsicum frutescens, Chitosan nanoparticles, Dengue, Encapsulation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4321606/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4321606/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eConsidering reduced environmental impact and high specificity in targeting vector organisms, the use of plant-based insecticides for dengue mosquito control is crucial in dengue disease management. We investigated the larvicidal efficacy of hot water, cold water, and water-acetone extracts of combined plant extracts of \u003cem\u003eCapsicum frutescens\u003c/em\u003e (Naimiris) and \u003cem\u003eAllium sativum\u003c/em\u003e (Garlic) against \u003cem\u003eAedes aegypti\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAedes albopictus\u003c/em\u003e larvae. The plant extract encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles were also assessed for larvicidal potential. Chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized via the ionic gelation method, employing an optimized formulation comprising 2.5% chitosan and 1.5% sodium tripolyphosphate, with stirring at 1500 rpm. The most effective plant extract was encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles, subsequently packaged into commercially viable sachets. The water-acetone extract showed the highest larval mortality, resulting the lowest LD\u003csub\u003e50\u003c/sub\u003e values (2051.01 and 1097.69 mg L\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e after 24 and 48 hours of exposure, respectively), while showing the significant synergistic activity (CI\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;1). Nanoparticle characterization was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, revealing a nanoparticle diameter ranging from 350 to 450 nm. Approximately 96.10\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.77% of combined plant mixture's water-acetone extract was successfully encapsulated within nanoparticles, with 90% of encapsulated plant extract released into the medium over a 14-day period. Semi-permeable sachet packets containing 6 g of encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles showed strong larvicidal activity for 10 days, with shelf life up to six months. These findings suggest that chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating a combination of \u003cem\u003eCapsicum frutescens\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eAllium sativum\u003c/em\u003e extracts hold promise as eco-friendly larvicides against dengue vectors.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Eco-friendly larvicidal agent from combined plant extracts encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles to combat dengue mosquitoes","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-10-03 04:34:20","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4321606/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Minor revisions","date":"2025-04-03T10:30:04+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2025-03-04T17:54:11+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","date":"2025-02-15T01:59:47+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-09-02T10:35:02+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-04-26T05:35:55+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","date":"2024-04-25T01:05:50+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"jtis","sideBox":"Learn more about [International Journal of Tropical Insect Science](http://link.springer.com/journal/42690)","snPcode":"42690","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/jtis/default2.aspx","title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"bbf4958c-ce72-4115-9e3a-61ee3de51c62","owner":[],"postedDate":"October 3rd, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-07-14T16:01:24+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-4321606","link":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-025-01570-z","journal":{"identity":"international-journal-of-tropical-insect-science","isVorOnly":false,"title":"International Journal of Tropical Insect Science"},"publishedOn":"2025-07-10 15:57:29","publishedOnDateReadable":"July 10th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-10-03 04:34:20","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1007/s42690-025-01570-z","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-025-01570-z","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4321606","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4321606","identity":"rs-4321606","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}