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Controlling insect pests through nano-based formulation of chemicals is one of the newly applied methods in IPM programs; however, the probable side impacts of nano-pesticides on non-target organisms need to be evaluated. In this study, deltamethrin and matrine were encapsulated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and chitosan (Cs), respectively, and their toxicity were investigated against Habrabracon hebetor Say using the contact method. According to the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), spherical nanoparticles for both formulations were observed. The average hydrodynamic nanoparticle diameters for deltamethrin and matrine were 65 and 70.5 nm. The LC₅₀ values were 254.48, 334.90, 760.31 and 1021 mg L^-1 in PEG-encapsulated deltamethrin, commercial deltamethrin, Cs-encapsulated matrine, and commercial matrine, respectively. Exposing to the LC₃₀ of the commercial and nano-encapsulated deltamethrin significantly prolonged the total pre-adult period. The adults of H. hebetor in PEG-encapsulated deltamethrin treatment had the lowest longevity compared to other treatments and control. Furthermore, the sublethal exposure to the PEG-based nanoformulation of deltamethrin and commercial deltamethrin resulted in a significant reduction of the intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m) (0.159 and 0.168 day^-1, respectively). Same trend was observed for the gross reproductive rate (GRR), net reproductive rate (R₀), and finite rate of increase (λ) of the parsitoid. Our findings indicate that the negative side effects of commercial and nano-based formulations of deltamethrin on H. hebetor should be considered in IPM programs.
 

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Backgrounds: Due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant Candida species, the discovery of new antifungal agents with minimum side effects is essential. The aim of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of caprylic acid and nano-encapsulated caprylic acid against C. albicans as well as their effect on the expression of EFG1 gene.
Materials & Methods: In this laboratory trial study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of caprylic acid and nano-encapsulated caprylic acid against C. albicans was evaluated at various concentrations (400-625 and 1.3-50 μL/mL, respectively). Real time-PCR was performed to assess the expression level of EFG1 gene. Cytotoxicity effect of caprylic acid and nano-encapsulated caprylic acid was evaluated on SW480 cell line using MTT test.
Findings: Antifungal activity findings displayed that MIC90 and MIC50 values of caprylic acid were 500 and 450 μg/mL, respectively, whereas MIC90 and MIC50 values of nano-encapsulated caprylic acid were 6.2 and 3.1 μg/mL, respectively. The expression of EFG1 gene significantly decreased in the groups treated with caprylic acid and nano-encapsulated caprylic acid compared to the control group. According to the cytotoxicity evaluation findings, the viability of cells treated with caprylic acid was significantly higher than that of cells exposed to nano-encapsulated caprylic acid.
Conclusions: According to the obtained results, nano-encapsulated caprylic acid successfully inhibited C. albicans growth at a lower concentration compared to caprylic acid. Overall, it was found that nano-encapsulated caprylic acid is a promising antifungal agent against Candida species; however, further studies are needed to be performed about nano-encapsulation of caprylic acid.

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Quercetin is a flavonoid, abundantly present in plants and has gained considerable interest for its antioxidant properties.  The present study was designed to assess and compare the influence of both free and nano-encapsulated quercetin on growth indices and survival in Penaeus vannamei. The ionic gelation method was used to prepare quercetin loaded nanoparticles (Qu-ChiNPs), and their characteristics were determined using DLS method. The finding related to the characterization of Qu-ChiNPs demonstrated that hydrodynamic size and Zeta potential were 160/1 nm and 33/8 mV, respectively, and in vitro release of drug from Qu ChiNPs illustrated burst release in the initial period. For feeding trial, shrimps with an average weight of 2/27 ± 0/18 g with 5 diets including: basic diet without Qu, Qu-Chi and Chitosan nanoparticles supplement (control), supplement with 0.5 g Querectin, 0.25 g Qu-Chi, 0.5 g Qu-Chi and 0.5 g Chitosan nanoparticles per kg of diet were fed. Shrimp were randomly divided into 5 groups, with 3 replicates in each group and 50 shrimp in each replicate. After a 2-month feeding period, results showed that final weight (Wf), weight gain (WG) and mean daily weight gain (ADG) of shrimp fed Qu-Chi 0.5 g were higher than the other treatments (P˂ 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in survival rate (SR) between treatments. The results showed that the use of Qu-Chi 0.5 g in the diet can have a positive effect on growth performance and survival of Penaeus vannamei.

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In this study, the feasibility of fabrication of nanoemulsions containing garlic extract to hide the unpleasant odor and keeping functional properties of them in order to promote their applications in food formulation was considered. For this purpose, the various formulations of nanoemulsions containing garlic extract using high energy method (water bath type ultrasonic) were produced and also, the effect of various ratios of garlic extract on droplet size, encapsulation efficiency, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, viscosity, electrical conductivity and turbidity of nanoemulsions was evaluated. Droplet size of various nanoemulsions ranged from 62 to 302 nm for water in oil nanoemulsions based on the dispersed phase ratio. The results of gas chromatography showed that the produced nanoemulsions were covered the volatile compounds of garlic extracts by a relatively high performance, but with an increase in the percentage of dispersed phase (garlic extract) from 5 to 25 percent, encapsulation efficiency was dropped from 89 to 80 % in water-in-oil nanoemulsion. Results from microbial test showed that water-in-oil nanoemulsions have a relatively low antimicrobial activity and they have only an inhibitory effect in high percent of garlic extract (25 %). Results of antioxidant activity by DPPH method cleared that water-in-oil nanoemulsions have a high free radical scavenging power. Also, the electrical conductivity of water-in-oil nanoemulsions was very low due to the oily continuous phase of nanoemulsions.