Biosynthesized Nanoparticles and Plant-Derived Compounds in Mosquito Control
A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 65
Special Issue Editors
Interests: plant secondary metabolites; nanoparticles; epigenetics; plant and insect physiology and molecular biology; RNAi
Interests: plant tissue culture and genetic engineering; plant and insect molecular biology RNA; functional genomics
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue will explore the innovative use of biosynthesized nanoparticles and plant-derived bioactive compounds in the control of disease-transmitting mosquitoes, with a focus on environmentally sustainable and biologically effective approaches. Traditional mosquito control methods, which often rely on synthetic chemicals, are facing growing challenges, such as resistance development, environmental toxicity, and non-target effects. This issue will highlight how green nanotechnology and phytochemicals offer promising alternatives by integrating natural resources and innovative materials science.
Featured articles in this issue will explore the synthesis and characterization of metallic nanoparticles such as silver, gold, zinc oxide, and polymer-coated variants produced using plant extracts or isolated plant compounds. These biosynthesized nanoparticles are assessed for their biological efficacy, which includes larvicidal, pupicidal, and adulticidal activity, as well as their effects on embryonic development and reproductive processes in major mosquito vectors like Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex species.
In addition to bioactivity, included studies will investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Key mechanisms include enzyme inhibition, cuticle disruption, oxidative stress induction, and gene expression modulation. Several articles also address insecticide resistance, focusing on cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated metabolic resistance and target site mutations, offering insights into overcoming resistance in mosquito populations.
Furthermore, this issue will include research on essential oils, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenes from various medicinal and aromatic plants that exhibit repellency and toxicity toward mosquitoes. These natural products are evaluated for their efficacy, stability, synergistic effects, and potential for formulation into nano-emulsions or controlled-release systems.
By bridging entomology, phytochemistry, nanoscience, and public health, this Special Issue will contribute to the development of eco-friendly, target-specific, and resistance-manageable mosquito control strategies. It provides a comprehensive platform for researchers and public health professionals seeking novel solutions to combat mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, malaria, and chikungunya.
Dr. Balasubramani Sundararajan
Dr. Dhandapani Gurusamy
Dr. Kanakachari Mogilicherla
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- biosynthesized nanoparticles
- plant-derived compounds
- polymer coated nanoparticles
- mosquito control
- green nanotechnology
- larvicidal activity
- essential oils
- nano-emulsion
- vector-borne diseases
- insecticidal phytochemicals
- RNA interference (RNAi)eco-friendly insecticides
- resistance mitigation in vector species
- botanical pesticides
- sustainable vector control
- metallic nanoparticles for pest control
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