Effect of morphology on larvicidal activity of chemically synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles against mosquito vectors

Abstract

We report the larvicidal effects of four different morphologies of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) [star-shaped (S), needle-like (N), plate-like (P) and cubical (C)] on larvae ofAedes albopictusandAnopheles vagus; the mosquitoes causing dengue fever and malaria, respectively. The nanoparticles were characterized by several analytical techniques, and their sizes and shapes were determined. Second instar larvae of the two types of mosquitoes were exposed to several concentrations of nanoparticles (25 mg L−1, 50 mg L−1, 75 mg L−1, 100 mg L−1) at 25 ± 2 °C and 84 ± 5% R.H, separately, for each morphology. Larval mortality was reported at 24 h intervals up to 21 days. The resulting LC50forAedes albopictuswere, respectively, 38.90 mg L−1, 47.53 mg L−1, 68.38 mg L−1, 50.24 mg L−1for S-, N-, P- and C-shaped nanoparticles. The LC50ofAnopheles vagusis lower (LC504.78 mg L−1, 6.51 mg L−1, 13.64 mg L−1, 10.47 mg L−1), respectively, for S-, N-, P- and C-shaped nanoparticles indicating that the nanoparticles are more toxic toAnopheles vaguslarvae. The highest larvicidal effect was obtained from star-shaped nanoparticles [Aedes albopictus(38.90 mg L−1) onAnopheles vagus(4.78 mg L−1)], and the lowest was shown by the plate-like nanoparticles [Aedes albopictus(68.38 mg L−1),Anopheles vagus(13.64 mg L−1)]. The rate of development of surviving mosquito larvae was retarded when exposed to ZnO nanoparticles suggesting the possibility for these nanoparticles to kill and delay the growth ofAedes albopictusandAnopheles vaguslarvae.