title: Entomotoxicity and biosafety assessment of PEGylated acephate nanoparticles: a biologically safe alternative to neurotoxic pesticides.
abstract: This is a report of an experimental study on a nanoencapsulation of the organophosphate acephate. Acephate was encapsulated in polyethylene glycol, using a simple, easy-to-replicate method that required no special equipment or conditions. The nanoencapsulation (nanoacephate) was characterized and its bioefficacy as compared to the regular commercial acephate was tested. The biosafety of the new compound was also tested on a murine model. Our new nanoencapsulation scored over the regular variety on all counts. It was found to successfully incorporate the active pesticidal component, acephate and this compound retained greater functional integrity over time as a nanoencapsulation. It was significantly more efficacious than the regular variety. It was biosafe when tested on murine model. We have reason to believe that this nanoencapsulation would allow the use of an organophosphate in a more targeted manner, thereby making it a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to the regular variety in use now.
authors.affiliation: Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India. saheli.pradhan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Saheli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: Indrani
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Gopal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lodh
authors.forename: Prasun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patra
authors.forename: Samrat Roy
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.forename: Arunava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.forename: Arunava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goswami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007313:Insecta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D063088:Phosphoramides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D007306:Insecticides; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010755:Organophosphates; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D063088:Phosphoramides; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C001969:acephate