Green Micro- and Nanoemulsions for Managing Parasites, Vectors and Pests

Abstract

The management of parasites, insect pests and vectors requests development of novel, effective and eco-friendly tools. The development of resistance towards many drugs and pesticides pushed scientists to look for novel bioactive compounds endowed with multiple modes of action, and with no risk to human health and environment. Several natural products are used as alternative/complementary approaches to manage parasites, insect pests and vectors due to their high efficacy and often limited non-target toxicity. Their encapsulation into nanosystems helps overcome some hurdles related to their physicochemical properties, for instance limited stability and handling, enhancing the overall efficacy. Among different nanosystems, micro- and nanoemulsions are easy-to-use systems in terms of preparation and industrial scale-up. Different reports support their efficacy against parasites of medical importance, including Leishmania, Plasmodium and Trypanosoma as well as agricultural and stored product insect pests and vectors of human diseases, such as Aedes and Culex mosquitoes. Overall, micro- and nanoemulsions are valid options for developing promising eco-friendly tools in pest and vector management, pending proper field validation. Future research on the improvement of technical aspects as well as chronic toxicity experiments on non-target species is needed.

Developing a Highly Stable Carlina acaulis Essential Oil Nanoemulsion for Managing Lobesia botrana

“…Therefore, the encapsulated EO can exert its larvicidal activity even at lower concentrations than pure EO. Finally, the NE appears promising in controlling the growth of L. botrana , not only for the larvicidal potential but also for the improvement of the physico-chemical properties and stability of the EO [ 38 ].…”

“…Nanotechnology represents a suitable strategy to carry the EOs’ active principles, overcoming their physiochemical limitations; the small size of nano-systems increases active ingredients spreading, deposition, permeation, and provides controlled release on the target site. Among nano-delivery systems, nanoemulsions (NEs) represent an efficient, low-priced, and safe way to carry EOs [ 38 ].…”

An Overview of Micro- and Nanoemulsions as Vehicles for Essential Oils: Formulation, Preparation and Stability

“…By contrast, low-energy methods are based on the transformation of W/O emulsion into an O/W NE. The phase inversion can be achieved by modifying the experimental conditions, such as the temperature (phase inversion temperature, PIT) or the composition (phase-inversion composition, PIC and emulsion inversion point, EIP), in order to reach the inversion point where the interfacial tension is so low to allow the formation of fine oil droplets [29].…”

“…Specifically, they provided several approaches such as the preparation of polymeric, metal, and metal oxide nanoparticles and lipid carriers, including liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles, and micro-and nanoemulsions. Among them, micro-and nanoemulsions (MEs and NEs, respectively) are the easiest to formulate and handle and they can be obtained at low cost [29]. They are suitable in presence of lipophilic or low water soluble compounds, such as EOs, that required the dispersion in water media, i.e., pesticides or foodstuff ingredients [30,31].…”

“…The interest in EO-based MEs and NEs is increasing as testified by the growing number of studies dealing with them [29]. In this respect, the main fields of applications can be identified through the Scopus database subject area analysis ( Figure 1).…”