Nanoinsecticidal Efficacy of Ag/Ni Bimetallic Nanoparticles (BMNPs) on Lymphatic Filariasis Vector

Aims: Nanoparticles are gradually gaining wide scientific interest due to their various applications in catalysis, magnetism, medicine, optics, as antibacterial and nanolarvicidal agents. This research aimed at evaluating the larvicidal activity of green synthesized Ag/Ni BMNPs from the aqueous root extract of Borassus aethiopum as the stabilizing agent as well as their spectroscopic investigation using UV-Visible and FT-IR spectroscopy.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Gombe State University between August and December, 2019.

Methodology: In this study, Ag/Ni hybrid bimetallic nanoparticles was synthesized using an eco-friendly method from the secondary metabolites of Borassus aethiopum acting as the reducing agent.

Results: Optical measurements using UV-Vis showed the maximum absorption wavelength at 410nm while the FT-IR result for the root extract showed peaks at 3443.26cm-1, 2929.48 cm-1, 1651.28 cm-1, and 1080.12 cm-1 corresponding to OH stretch, sp3 C-H stretch, C=C stretch and C-O-C stretching respectively. These were replaced in the spectra of the BMNPs with the absence and appearance of some others indicating that they were involved in the capping process. The lethal concentration (LC50) was found to be 5.730, 13.585 and 15.735 mg/L for 1st, 2nd and 3rd/4th instars respectively. Also, the lethal concentration (LC90) was found to be 88.444, 195.689 and 236.889 mg/L for 1st, 2nd and 3rd/4th instars respectively.

Conclusion: The larvicidal bioassay result showed a dose-dependent mortality rates against Culex quinquefasciatus larvae which suggest they can be developed to control the insect population.