Green synthesis of carbon dot silver nanohybrids from fruits and vegetable’s peel waste: Applications as potent mosquito larvicide

Abstract

Background: North East India is hot spots for several vector borne diseases such as malaria and Japanese Encephalitis. In spite of taking several well executed plans, the diseases continue to explode from time to time. Therefore, effective measures need to be planned to control mosquito breeding. We have synthesized C-dot@silver nanohybrids using fruits and vegetable wastes like orange peels, mango peels and Taro (Colocasia). The nanohybrids show its bio-larvicidal efficacy against mosquito vectors like Aedes albopictus, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. Results: An appreciable larvicidal activity is observed for all treated mosquito species (viz. Aedes albopictus, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus) with materials concentration of 0.40–0.70 ​mg/L. High resolution transmission electron microscopic and optical microscopic images evidenced that nanohybrid enters into larval body through membrane resulting destruction of cuticle, head and all other parts. Conclusions: The studies provide an eco-friendly, easy and green routes to synthesize silver nanohybrid utilizing fruits and vegetables waste materials and its application as mosquito larvicidal agent. It is highly effective at low concentration and stable against various conditions like temperature, other interfering chemicals etc. Hence, it would be green materials to control mosquito breeding with high potential. The studies can be scaled up keeping measured effectivity of materials to control mosquito breeding in sewage water, municipal garbages, stagnant water etc.

Keywords

• Silver nanohybrid
• Fruits and vegetables wastes
• Green chemistry
• Larvicidal efficacy
• Mosquito vectors