Development of Nature-Based Insect-Repellent Surface Coating Using ZnO Nanoparticles and Plant Extracts for Mosquito Control

Abstract

Mosquitos have been a malice and source of many diseases in humans. Later on, humans understood they learned that plants also possess mosquito-repellent properties. Different insectrepellent coatings are present in the market which are chemically prepared and can be harmful to humans and the environment. Different plants have insect-repellent properties which have been utilized in this research to make a nature-based insect-repellent surface coating. Moringa oleifera L. and Mentha piperita L. are naturally insect-repellent plants. Nanoparticles increase the surface area and efficiency of extracts of plants. Thus, ZnONP of Moringa oliefera L. and Mentha piperita L. plants were made characterization was done through UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR, and PSA. The UV-visible spectrum showed absorption peaks for ZnO nanoparticles at 350nm for Mentha piperita L. and 356nm for Moringa oleifera L. The particle size analysis indicated the variable sizes of ZnONPs for both plants. FTIR showed vibration peaks from 3341 to 650cm-1 for Moringa oleifera L. and 3393 to 700 cm-1 for Mentha piperita L. ZnONPs were used in paint along with water extracts of plants to make the paint insect-repellent in nature. Mosquito repellent activity of paint formulations was also tested against Aedes aegypti.