The Effects of Nano-Casein Encapsulation and Productions of a Controlled-Release on Eugenol Containing Bio-Pesticide Toxicity

Abstract

The concern against long-term health and environmental adverse effects of synthetic pesticides has encouraged the development of biopesticides. Eugenol, a major constituent of clove oil, has been proven as potential bio-pesticides. However, the evaporation and photosensitive properties of Eugenol need to be controlled. Nano-encapsulation is a promising method that can preserve eugenol from evaporating and photodegradation. This study aims to investigate the production of a controlled-release of eugenol in casein micelle as well as the effects of nano-encapsulation on Eugenol Containing Biopesticide (ECB) toxicity against Artemia salina sp. Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) was implemented to investigate effect of nano-encapsulation on ECB and the Response Surface Methodology was used to optimize the formula to investigate the production of a controlled-release of eugenol. The optimum condition revealed loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency response for 64.67% and 79.64%, respectively. The average diameter of the obtained nanocapsule-eugenol (NCE) was 179.83 nm. Release study was performed at 40 °C that represent as pesticide applied in farm, revealed that casein micelle capsule could delayed the release of eugenol. A cytotoxicity assay showed that the NCE has 21 times more effective compared with eugenol only. It was found that nano encapsulated ECB was statistically more toxic than ECB-suspension (without nanoencapsulation) with a confidence level of 95%. Lethal Concentration 50 (LC50) of nano-ECB was 0.264 µg/L while LC50 of ECB-suspension was 4.445 µg/L. The increase of toxic properties after nano-encapsulation by casein could be explained by the increase of eugenol stability. Thus nano-encapsulation can be proposed as a method for improving the bio-pesticide ability of eugenol.