Original Article. Efficacy of electrospun bionanofibers as fumigant pesticides in foodstuff storage

Abstract

Essential oils as alternative synthetic pesticides for pest management of foodstuffs have recently received increased attention. Controlled and slow release formulations of essential oils are used to enhance their efficiency. Two volatile essential oils of Mentha piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L. were investigated for release rate and mortality percentage by fumigant toxicity against 1st instar larvae of Plodia interpunctella. Electrospinning was used to incorporate various concentrations of essential oils in nanofibers. The essential oils can be released from the nanofibers for long periods of time, from several days to several weeks. Poly(lactic acid) was used as a green polymer carrier and the essential oils were incorporated into the nanofibers (8-15v/v% PLA). Insecticidal bioassay revealed that oil-loaded nanofibers (NFOs) were more toxic than pure essential oils (PEOs) against tested larvae. The LC50 and LT50 of NFOs were 1.2 and 4 times, respectively, more than PEOs. Our results indicated that PEOs completely lost their insecticidal activity after 14 days, whereas at the same period, NFOs had an average of 93% mortality when applied against P. interpunctella. Therefore, it can be concluded that nanofibers improved the persistence of the oil. This study presents S. officinalis has more toxicity and M. piperita had more persistence for controlling the larvae of indian meal moth.

Plant celluloses, hemicelluloses, lignins, and volatile oils for the synthesis of nanoparticles and nanostructured materials

“…For instance, various concentrations of Mentha piperita and Salvia officinalis EOs diluted with Tween 80 have been used as an emulsifier for preparing the pre-polymer solution to produce solid nanofibers. 465 EOs from cinnamon and beta-cyclodextrin proteoliposomes can be used to fabricate antibacterial polyethylene oxide nanofibers by electrospinning. 466 The volatile cinnamon and oregano oils are part of a novel method for the fabrication of micro-sized beta-cyclodextrin capsules and nanosized films, offering excellent physical and antifungal properties against Botrytis fungi 467 .…”

“…These polymeric nanocapsules and nanospheres can be added to commercial products, such as gels and creams, to improve EO activity and use in cosmetics and preservatives of pharmaceuticals 478 . Moreover, EO can be integrated in many nanosized lipid particles, such as liposomes, nanosized solid-liquid particles (SLNs), niosomes and lipid nanocarriers for drug delivery systems, to increase their biological activity and drug targeting efficiency 402,465 . Different methods, such as thin lipid film hydration and solvent in water emulsion diffusion, can be used to synthesize lipid nanoparticles, including liposomes and SLNs 479 .…”

Potential Applications of Electrospun Nanofibers in Agriculture

“…Allahvaisi et al have also reported the effectiveness of PEO loaded onto nanofiber mats. (Allahvaisi et al, 2017) Essential oils from Mentha piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L. were loaded up to 22 wt% in the matrix of PLA polymer. The NFOs showed release of essential oil and mortality rates even after 40 days of exposure whereas the PEO lost its insecticidal activity just after about 14 days which will require reapplication and thereby lead to increased economic burdens.…”

Stability Phenomena Associated with the Development of Polymer-Based Nanopesticides

“…On the other side, essential oils have been used as alternative synthetic pesticides for pest management of foodstuffs. For instance, Allahvaisi et al [ 78 ] evaluated the release of essential oils of Mentha piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L. from poly(lactic acid) nanofibers for fumigant toxicity against first instar larvae of Plodia interpunctella. Pure essential oils completely lost their insecticidal activity after 14 days, whereas at the same period, essential oils in nanofibers had an average of 93% mortality when applied against P. interpunctella.…”