Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles for Vector Control Applications

Green synthesis employs biological agents—most commonly plant extracts—as reducing and stabilising media to produce metallic and metal-oxide nanoparticles under mild conditions. In vector control, such nanomaterials target disease-transmitting insects by generating oxidative stress, disrupting cuticular and gut membranes, inhibiting key enzymes and modulating gene expression. Metallic species including silver, zinc oxide and copper oxide have been formulated as larvicides, adulticides and repellents, deployable in water containers, surface coatings or spray applications. Compared with conventional chemical insecticides, green-synthesised nanoparticles offer lower non-target toxicity, reduced environmental persistence, cost-effective production at ambient temperature and pressure, and a diminished risk of resistance development. Challenges remain in standardising phytochemical extracts, ensuring batch-to-batch consistency, scaling up synthesis and conducting comprehensive ecotoxicological assessments. Given the global burden of malaria, dengue, Zika and other vector-borne diseases, eco-friendly nano-based strategies harnessing regional plant biodiversity present a promising avenue for sustainable and locally tailored vector management.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have demonstrated the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using plant-derived biomolecules. These ZnO NPs exhibit potent larvicidal activity against multiple instars of Anopheles stephensi at low parts-per-million concentrations, while sublethal exposure preserves the predation efficiency of natural predators such as teleost fish and copepods. Beyond mosquitocidal efficacy, the nanoparticles display broad-spectrum antimicrobial effects against bacterial and fungal pathogens and induce cytotoxic responses in mammalian cell lines, suggesting potential applications in drug development. This work highlights the multifunctional properties of green-synthesised nanomaterials and their compatibility with non-target organisms, paving the way for integrated vector and pathogen control solutions.

Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles for Vector Control Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in green synthesis of nanoparticles for vector control applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Green synthesis: A method of nanoparticle production that employs natural biological agents to reduce metal ions and stabilise nanoparticles without toxic chemicals.

Nanoparticle: A particle with dimensions typically between 1 and 100 nanometres, exhibiting unique surface-to-volume ratios and physicochemical properties distinct from bulk materials.

Larvicidal activity: The capacity of a substance to kill the aquatic larval stage of insect vectors under defined experimental conditions.

Phytochemicals: Bioactive plant-derived compounds, such as flavonoids and terpenoids, used as reducing and capping agents in green nanoparticle synthesis.

LC50: The lethal concentration of an agent required to kill 50% of a test population, commonly used as a measure of toxicity.

References

1. Tiny Green Army: Fighting Malaria with Plants and Nanotechnology. Pharmaceutics (2024).
2. Larvicidal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Extracts of Ambrosia arborescens (Asteraceae) to Control Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Nanotechnology (2018).
3. Mosquito-Borne Diseases and Their Control Strategies: An Overview Focused on Green Synthesized Plant-Based Metallic Nanoparticles. Insects (2023).
4. Zinc oxide nanoparticles using plant Lawsonia inermis and their mosquitocidal, antimicrobial, anticancer applications showing moderate side effects. Scientific Reports (2021).