Curcumin Microcapsule Formulations for Prolong Persistence in the Photodynamic Inactivation of <i>Aedes aegypti</i> Larvae

Curcumin Microcapsule Formulations for Prolong Persistence in the Photodynamic Inactivation of <i>Aedes aegypti</i> Larvae

<b>Background:</b> Viral diseases including dengue, zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever remain a significant public health challenge, primarily due to the increasing resistance of these vectors, the <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquito, to conventional control methods. <b>Obje...

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Main Authors: Matheus Garbuio, Larissa Marila de Souza, Lucas Danilo Dias, Jean Carlos Ferreira Machado, Natalia Mayumi Inada, Hernane da Silva Barud, Edgar Aparecido Sanches, Francisco Eduardo Gontijo Guimarães, Ana Paula da Silva, Alessandra Ramos Lima, Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Pharmaceutics
Subjects:
photodynamic inactivation
curcumin microencapsulation
vector control
photoinsecticide
spray drying
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/4/496
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Summary:<b>Background:</b> Viral diseases including dengue, zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever remain a significant public health challenge, primarily due to the increasing resistance of these vectors, the <i>Aedes aegypti</i> mosquito, to conventional control methods. <b>Objectives:</b> Herein, a microencapsulated curcumin formulation was developed and characterized using spray-drying technology, with D-mannitol and starch as encapsulating agents. After microencapsulation, photolarvicidal tablet formulations (Formulated Curcumin Tablets—FCT) were prepared, varying the proportions of starch and pectin: FCT1 (60% starch), FCT2 (35% pectin and 25% starch), and FCT3 (42.5% pectin and 17.5% starch), while maintaining 10% curcumin and 30% D-mannitol in all formulations. The main goal was to enhance the stability and efficacy of curcumin as a photolarvicidal agent. <b>Methods:</b> The formulation was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, thermal analysis (TG and DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and photodegradation assays under fluorescent light. <b>Results:</b> The photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of <i>Ae. aegypti</i> larvae was evaluated under white, fluorescent light exposure, and the formulation exhibited a significantly enhanced larvicidal activity compared to free curcumin, with a 57-fold reduction in LC<sub>50</sub> (LC<sub>50-24h</sub> = 0.27 mg/L). Additionally, the most effective formulation, FCT2, maintained its residual activity for 27 days, reinforcing that curcumin microencapsulation, combined with PDI, can extend vector control. Release studies under different pH conditions confirmed a controlled release mechanism, favoring environmental stability. <b>Conclusions:</b> The results indicate that microencapsulated curcumin has great potential as a sustainable photoinsecticidal agent, offering stability, efficacy, and a promising alternative for managing <i>Ae. aegypti</i> larval populations.
ISSN:1999-4923

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