Nanotechnology Based Emerging Approaches to Combat Malaria and Dengue Fever

Abstract

Nanotechnology has vast applications in virtually all the fields including health and environment. Nanomaterials have different origins like plants, animals, metals, and microorganisms. They have larvicidal activities against mosquito larvae that cause malaria and dengue fever which are most malicious parasitic diseases of human beings. Multidrug resistance of malaria has been reported in different parts of Southeast Asia especially to the first line of antimalarial drugs. Nanomaterials having different origin, sizes, concentrations, and shapes, have varied efficacy against the vectors which are comparable with the commercially available insecticides and even have better results than the same. Nanomaterials can be used as an alternative to commercially available insecticides for the eradication of vectors causing both the diseases. In this chapter, types, sources, composition, larvicidal potential against vectors of nanomaterials have been discussed along with possible toxicity and future recommendations on the eco-friendly approach for the control of mosquito-borne diseases.