SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATION OF CuO@SiO2 NANOCOMPOSITE USING GUM ARABIC: A BIO-FRIENDLY CONTROL MEASURE AGAINST LYMPHATIC FILARIASIS VECTOR

The search for a novel and bio-friendly insecticide is crucial because of the challenge of insecticide resistance developed by mosquitoes against chemical based insecticides. The CuO@SiO2 nanocomposite was synthesized using gum Arabic. The nanocomposite was then characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Diffraction X-ray, Ultra-Violet/visible spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR). The techniques confirmed the formation of CuO@SiO2 nanocomposite. Then, the larvicidal activity of the nanocomposite was conducted for 24 hours on the first, second and third instars of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae at various concentrations of 10, 20 and 25mgL-1. The percentage mortality of the first instar larvae at 10, 20 and 25mgL-1 concentrations were 90±5.656854, 98±2.828427 and 98±2.828427% respectively. The second instar showed 82±5.656854, 88±5.656854, and 96±0% mortality when tested with 10, 20 and 25mgL-1 concentrations of the nanocomposite respectively. For the third instar larvae, the percentage mortality for the 10, 20 and 25mgL-1 concentrations were 76±5.656854, 80±0 and 96±0 % respectively. The calculated LC50 values were 2.524, 2.828 and 4.17mgL-1 for the first to third instars respectively while the LC90 was found to be 9.891, 17.775 and 23.899 mgL-1 for the first to third instar larvae respectively. These findings is an indication that CuO@SiO2 nanocomposite could be a potential nanolarvicide for the control of lymphatic filariasis vector.