OBTENÇÃO DE NANOESFERAS COM Inga laurina Trypsin inhibitor E AVALIAÇÃO DE SEU POTENCIAL LARVICIDA CONTRA Aedes aegypti

Abstract

Inga laurina Trypsin inhibitor (ILTI) is a peptidase inhibitor isolated from the saline extract of Inga laurina (Sw.) Willd seeds, a plant found in various Brazilian biomes widely used for urban landscaping. Previous studies have indicated that ILTI has several activities, including larvicidal potential. Aedes aegypti is an important vector of relevant diseases that affect the health of the population, such as zika, chikungunya, yellow fever and dengue. One of the challenges of using ILTI is its stability, which motivated this study to apply nanotechnology to develop nanospheres containing this active ingredient, using the nanoprecipitation method. The nanospheres were composed of an organic phase containing polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer, Span 60 and acetone and an aqueous phase containing purified water, Tween 80 and ILTI. The study aimed to obtain and characterize nanospheres with ILTI, evaluating their larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti larvae and enabling a more innovative and beneficial alternative for direct control in breeding sites without presenting toxicity to non-targets and avoiding environmental impact. The characterization of the nanospheres included dynamic light scattering (DLS) verifying the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis and pH determination, with the intention to certify their efficiency. Tests exposing the nanospheres to Ae. aegypti larvae were performed to verify the mortality rate and behavior of these larvae. As a result, it was possible to obtain and characterize the nanospheres, managing to produce homogeneous nanospheres with good stability to evaluate their larvicidal potential. ILTI showed larvicidal activity, but the nanosphere produced containing ILTI did not demonstrate the same efficacy, suggesting continued research for more results.