Nanofiber encapsulation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the sustained release of mosquito larvicides

Despite the rising global incidence of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, existing vector control strategies remain inadequate for completely eliminating vectors from their breeding sites. This study aimed to encapsulate larvicide-producing bacteria in nanofibers designed to shield bacterial cells from environmental stress-mimicking natural biofilms-thereby enhancing their survival in aquatic habitats and prolonging larvicide production. During the initial screening, Pseudomonas aeruginosa proved to be more effective than the other two tested species, P. fluorescens and P. putida, in producing potent larvicides and was therefore selected for nanofiber encapsulation studies. Our findings demonstrate that nanofiber encapsulation can be a viable strategy for controlling mosquito larvae in breeding habitats over an extended period without harming non-target organisms.