Novel control methods for insect pests: development of a microencapsulation procedure for proteinaceous bioactives intended for oral delivery

BACKGROUND The objective was to develop an environmentally favourable microcapsule suitable for delivery of proteinaceous bioactive agents (‘bioinsecticides’) to pest insects. RESULTS Utilising feeding bioassays, we determined that microspheres made of alginate can be produced in a variety of sizes and are palatable and non-toxic to larvae of the lepidopteran pest Lacanobia oleracea. Dehydrated microspheres were also readily ingested by larvae. Using a novel feeding bioassay and alginate microspheres containing a fluorescent marker material (coumarin 7 encapsulated in styrene maleic anhydride beads), we determined that the microspheres successfully deliver the marker to the insect gut. Moreover, the alginate microspheres rapidly break down in the alkaline conditions of the insect gut and release their contents, the beads passing through the gut in 2–3 h. Using bovine serum albumin as a test protein and western blotting, it was determined that alginate can successfully encapsulate protein, and that the microspheres can be stored in a CaCl2 solution for up to 24 days without extensive leakage. Importantly, it was also determined that alginate and the microsphere-making procedure developed do not inactivate rVPr1 (an insect immunosuppressive protein and potential bioinsecticide). CONCLUSIONS An alginate-based microsphere has potential to deliver the proteinaceous bioactive rVPr1 to pest insects. © 2014 Crown copyright. Pest Management Science © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry