Development and Evaluation of Citrus Oil Nano-Emulsion as a Sustainable Mosquito Repellent

Abstract

Abstract:
Mosquito-borne diseases pose serious public health challenges globally. Synthetic chemical repellents such as DEET, while effective, pose potential health And environmental risks, creating a strong demand for natural alternatives. citrus essential oil reach in bioactive compounds like a limonene citral and linalol, exhibit promising mosquito repellent properties but are limited by volatility, poor stability and short duration of the action. To address this challenges this study explores the formulation of citrus oil Nano emulsion as a novel delivery system for enhanced mosquito repellence. Nano emulsion improve the solubility stability and control release of volatile components thereby prolonging repellent activity. biodegradable surfactants and natural carriers were employed to prepare stable Nano emulsion with practical size below 200 nanometer ensuring uniform dispersion and improve bioavailability preliminary evaluation demonstrate that the nano emulsion provide longer lasting protection compared to bulk citrus oil with reduce skin irritation and enhance user safety this research also highlights the potential of citrus oil Nano emulsion as a sustainable natural and effective alternative to synthesis synthetic repellent offering a promising strategy for eco-friendly mosquito control and victor bond disease prevention conventional chemical repellents have adverse health and environmental effects, motivating the search for natural alternatives.
This study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of a citrus oil nano-emulsion as a natural mosquito repellent. The nano-emulsion was prepared using a low-energy emulsification method and characterized for droplet size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and stability. Mosquito repellency was evaluated using WHO-based arm-in-cage bioassays against Aedes aegypti. Results indicated that the citrus oil nano-emulsion exhibited uniform nano-sized droplets, high stability, and enhanced repellency compared to conventional emulsions. Controlled release of bioactive compounds prolonged protection without adverse skin reactions. The findings suggest that citrus oil nano-emulsions represent a safe, eco-friendly, and sustainable alternative to synthetic repellents.