Biosynthesis of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles from the Symbiotic Bacterium, Photorhabdus luminescens of Entomopathogenic Nematode: Larvicidal Properties Against Three Mosquitoes and Galleria mellonella Larvae

Abstract

The present investigation focuses on the larvicidal property of gold and silver nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs) that were synthesized using the supernatant of Photorhabdus luminescens strain KPR-8B from nematode. The synthesized AuNPs and AgNPs were characterized through UV–visible spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and high-resolution transmission electron microscopic analyses. The characterization studies confirmed the spherical shape and size (14–46 nm) of AuNPs and AgNPs. The synthesized AuNPs and AgNPs were evaluated against 4th instar larvae of three mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus. The highest larval mortality was observed after 24 h from the KPR-8B derived AuNPs against A. aegypti with the LC50 and LC90 values of 5.04 and 12.65 µg/ml, respectively.