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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.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India (grant nos. BT/PR9050/NNT/28/21/2007, BT/PR15217/NNT/28/506/2011 and BT/BIPP0439/11/10), and Indian Council of Agriculture Research (grant nos. NAIP/Comp-4/C3004/2008-09 and NFBSFARA/GB-2019/2011-12) for their financial support. Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) plan project for 2008–2012 was also used for funding this work. Authors are also grateful to Mr. Nitai Debnath (Indian Statistical Institute) for his assistance in statistical analysis, Dr. Kausikisankar Pramanik (Jadavpur University) for analyzing GC/MS data and Dr. Sunipa Ghosh for interpretation of histological and pathological data.