Photoinactivation of Aedes aegypti larvae using riboflavin as photosensitizer

Abstract

More than half of the global population lives in areas where the Aedes aegypti mosquito is present. Efforts have been made to deal with the population of this mosquito in the larval and adult stages to prevent outbreaks of diseases (Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, and Yellow Fever). In this scenario, photodynamic inactivation may be an effective alternative method to control this vector population. To evaluate the efficacy of the riboflavin – B2 vitamin – as photosensitizer (PS) in the photodynamic inactivation of Ae. aegypti larvae, different concentrations (0; 0.005; 0.010; 0.025; 0.050; 0.075 and 0.100 mg mL−1) were evaluated under white light from RGB LEDs at a light dose of 495.2 J cm−2. The results reveal that riboflavin can be successfully applied as a PS agent to photoinactivate Ae. aegypti larvae, showing its potential to deal with the larvae population.