Nanoparticles: A Potential and Effective Method to Control Insect-Borne Diseases

Abstract

Insects act as vectors to carry a wide range of bacteria and viruses that can cause multiple vector-borne diseases in humans. Diseases such as dengue fever, epidemic encephalitis B, and epidemic typhus, which pose serious risks to humans, can be transmitted by insects. Due to the absence of effective vaccines for most arbovirus, insect control was the main strategy for vector-borne diseases control. However, the rise of drug resistance in the vectors brings a great challenge to the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases. Therefore, finding an eco-friendly method for vector control is essential to combat vector-borne diseases. Nanomaterials with the ability to resist insects and deliver drugs offer new opportunities to increase agent efficacy compared with traditional agents, and the application of nanoagents has expanded the field of vector-borne disease control. Up to now, the reviews of nanomaterials mainly focus on biomedicines, and the control of insect-borne diseases has always been a neglected field. In this study, we analyzed 425 works of the literature about different nanoparticles applied on vectors in PubMed around keywords, such as“nanoparticles against insect,” “NPs against insect,” and “metal nanoparticles against insect.” Through these articles, we focus on the application and development of nanoparticles (NPs) for vector control, discussing the lethal mechanism of NPs to vectors, which can explore the prospect of applying nanotechnology in the prevention and control of vectors.

Nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture: A double‐edged sword

“…[42][43][44] • Combating pests and pathogens: NPs can be used as an effective means to control pests and pathogens in agriculture. 45,46 They can act as carriers for targeted delivery of pesticides or antimicrobial agents, lowering the amount of chemicals required and minimizing environmental impact. 45,46 • Mitigating stresses from ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B) and ozone: NPs can provide protection to crops against harmful UV-B and ozone depletion.…”

“…45,46 They can act as carriers for targeted delivery of pesticides or antimicrobial agents, lowering the amount of chemicals required and minimizing environmental impact. 45,46 • Mitigating stresses from ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B) and ozone: NPs can provide protection to crops against harmful UV-B and ozone depletion. They can act as a shield, preventing damage to plant cells and reducing the negative effects of these stressors.…”

Introduction of invasive mosquito species into Europe and prospects for arbovirus transmission and vector control in an era of globalization

“…However, the mass rearing of suitable copepods has to be guaranteed. Recently, the copepods as predators of mosquito larvae have been combined with a newly explored mosquitocidal technique applying functionalized nanoparticles representing an emerging tool against virus-transmitting mosquitoes [ 122 – 125 ]. Biologically synthesized toxic silver nanoparticles induce reactive oxygen radicals in the mosquito which target the DNA metabolism and mitochondrial activity of the mosquito larvae.…”

The impact of carbon NPs on the accumulation of storage proteins and the generation advancement of the polyphagous insect pest tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)

“…Other common responses include the disruption of nutrition intake, formation of reactive oxygen species, and altered metabolic activities. 32 All these cumulatively affect the growth, development, and reproductive ability of the pest insects. Further, the extent of toxicity is highly dependent on the type and physical properties of the selected NPs, while the mode of toxicity is reliant on the route of administration (ingestion/inhalation/physical contact).…”