Rotenone encapsulated in pH-responsive alginate-based microspheres reduces toxicity to zebrafish

Rotenone is a botanical pesticide and has long been used for control of insect pests and also as a natural piscicide for management of fish populations in many countries. Field application for pest control, however, often encounters the movement of rotenone into surface water due to spray drift or surface runoff after rainfall, which could potentially result in water pollution and unexpected death of fishes. To minimize its effect on freshwater and the problem of fish dying, one solution was to encapsulate rotenone in specific microspheres, limiting its release and reducing its toxicity since rotenone can be quickly degraded under sunlight. In this study, pH-responsive alginate-based microspheres were synthesized to encapsulating rotenone, which were designated as rotenone beads. The rotenone beads, along with alginate beads (devoid of rotenone) were characterized and evaluated for their responses to pH and effects on zebrafish. Results showed that the microspheres had high loading efficiency (4.41%, w/w) for rotenone, and rotenone beads well responded to solution pH levels. The cumulative release rates of rotenone from the beads were 27.91%, 42.72%, and 90.24% at pH 5.5, 7.0, and 9.0, respectively. Under acidic conditions, the rotenone release rate was lower due to hydrogen bonding. On the contrary, rotenone became more quickly released at the high pH due to intermolecular repulsion. The toxicity of rotenone beads to zebrafish and fish embryos at a pH of 5.5 was reduced by 2- and 4-fold than chemical rotenone. Since pH levels in most freshwater lakes, ponds, and streams vary from 6 to 8, rotenone release from the beads in such freshwater could be limited. Thus, the synthesized rotenone beads could be relatively safely used for pest control with limited effects on freshwater fishers. •Botanical pesticide rotenone was encapsulated in alginate-based microspheres.•Rotenone beads were pH sensitive and released rotenone in a controlled fashion.•Rotenone beads were less toxic zebrafish and fish embryos than chemical rotenone.•Rotenone beads could be safely used for pest control with little effects on fish.