Nano-Insecticides for the Control of Human and Crop Pests

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a promising field of interdisciplinary research. It opens up a wide array of opportunities in various fields like insecticides, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and agriculture. Biosynthesis of insecticides from plant extracts is currently under exploration. Plant extracts are very cost-effective and eco-friendly and thus can be an economic and efficient alternative for the large-scale synthesis of synthetic and other chemical insecticides. The present review was carried out to establish the management of insect pests using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Cassia occidentalis against different life stages of crop and human pests. Synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Characteristics of the synthesized AgNPs were confirmed by analyzing the excitation of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using a UV–vis spectrophotometer at 420 nm. SEM analysis of the synthesized AgNPs clearly showed clustered and irregular shapes, mostly aggregated and having a size of 20–85 nm. The chemical composition of elements present in the solution was determined by its energy-dispersive spectrum. The FTIR analysis of the nanoparticles indicated the presence of proteins, which may be acting as capping agents around the nanoparticles. Biosynthesis of nanoparticles may be triggered by several compounds such as carbonyl groups, terpenoids, phenolics, flavones, amines, amides, proteins, pigments, alkaloids, and other reducing agents present in the biological extracts. Overall, this study adds knowledge on C. occidentalis-borne insecticides and green-synthesized AgNP toxic against arthropods of medical and agricultural importance, allowing us to propose the tested products as effective candidates to develop newer and safer pest control tools.