Alternative Biodefensive based on the Essential Oil from Allium sativum Encapsulated in PCL/Gelatin Nanoparticles

Abstract

The goal of this paper was to develop a biodegradable system containing the essential oil from Allium sativum bulbs encapsulated in PCL/gelatin-based nanoparticles, as well as evaluate its efficiency to control Aedes aegypti Linn. larvae and Cerataphis lataniae Bois. aphids. The essential oil was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS, and six compounds were identified, representing 93.1% of the total oil. The major compounds were diallyl trisulfide (51.8%), diallyl disulfide (23.2%) and allyl methyl trisulfide (13.6%). The PCL/gelatin-based nanoparticles containing this essential oil exhibited encapsulation efficiency higher than 94%, average particle diameter around 200 nm and zeta potential values about −36 mV. The essential oil presented no antioxidant nor enzymatic activities, so its effectiveness might be explained by the presence of sulfur compounds. The release kinetics of the encapsulated essential oil confirmed the release mechanism by the Fick's Law. About 50% of the encapsulated essential oil was released after 1 h, and about 90% was released after 50 h. This behavior is interesting from the technological point of view since the nanoparticles released as much oil as possible in a short period of time and then the lethal dosages were maintained along the time. Nanoparticles containing the encapsulated essential oil was submitted to in vitro bioassays against A. aegypti and C. lataniae and showed 100% of mortality against larvae and aphids up to 24 h. In conclusion, the essential oil from A. sativum presented effectiveness to be applied in sustainable management of pests in greenhouses, as well as for larvicidal control.

Three-Dimensional Nanoscale Morphological Surface Analysis of Polymeric Particles Containing Allium sativum Essential Oil

“…Due to significant differences in the height values, the height/diameter ratios were obtained: a significant increase was observed as a function of the encapsulated essential oil concentration. Other reports have applied the AFM technique to estimate the particles range for systems formed by gelatin and PCL [ 35 , 36 , 47 ].…”

“…The atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique has been extensively applied to evaluate complex surfaces [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], providing information on morphological [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ] and fractal [ 28 , 29 , 30 ] parameters, as well as a power spectrum density (PSD) [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. These parameters allow the proposition of specific applications associated with the release mechanism of encapsulated compounds [ 35 ]. There are several free and commercial softwares to perform morphological evaluations, representing useful alternative tools for material surface characterization.…”

Alternative Controlling Agent of Theobroma grandiflorum Pests: Nanoscale Surface and Fractal Analysis of Gelatin/PCL Loaded Particles Containing Lippia origanoides Essential Oil

“…The morphology of gelatin/PCL particles has been extensively studied in controlled release systems for pest control [ 14 , 15 , 17 ], scaffolds [ 60 , 61 ], and curatives [ 62 ]. Here we focused on the particles surface morphology (unloaded and loaded with L. origanoides essential oil), which previously showed significant larvicidal, acaricidal, and insecticidal potential [ 8 , 14 , 15 ].…”

“…The combination of biomaterials with different physicochemical properties has allowed the development of layered particles, to protect and release secondary metabolites [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The evaluation of surface nanotexture and fractal analyses through Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) technique has been useful to investigate the influence of texture parameters on the controlled release mechanism and concentration of encapsulated bioactive compounds [ 18 , 19 ].…”

Caracterização de nanopartículas poliméricas preenchidas com óleo essencial de Piper nigrum por microscopia de força atômica

“…Froiio et al produziram e investigaram, em termos de tamanho e distribuição de tamanho, NPPs com OEs de laranja e bergamota, usando imagens de AFM [28]. Estudos de NPPs que também tinham como materiais de parede PCL/gelatina, mas envolvendo OEs de outras plantas, tais como o alho (Allium sativum) e as pimentas das espécies Piper aduncum e Piper hispidinervum, também foram analisadas por AFM [21,29].…”