Development of Anti-Mosquito Spray Formulation Based on Lipid-Core Nanocapsules Loaded with Cinnamaldehyde for Fabrics Application

In this study, poly(epsilon-caprolactone) lipid-core nanocapsules containing cinnamaldehyde were prepared by interfacial deposition of pre-formed polymer and used for the first time in mosquito-repellent spray formulations on cotton, polyester and tetoron cotton fabrics. The synthesized nanocapsules formulations were characterized by dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. The retention of cinnamaldehyde-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules (Cin-LNCs) on cotton and polyester fabrics, before and after washing and heating, was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectrometry. The repellency effect of fabrics treated with the Cin-LNC formulation against mosquitoes was evaluated in the laboratory using the Excito chamber method and in field trials conducted on rubber farms. The SEM images and UV-Vis spectrometry results suggested that the fabrics treated with the Cin-LNC formulation showed outstanding resistance to washing and heating. No skin irritation by treated fabrics was recorded in human volunteers who took part in a 4-hour patch test. The treated fabrics exhibited good mosquito repellency (greater than 96 %) and were still able to offer around 30 % repellency even after five cycles of washing and heating. The results indicate that the use of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) lipid-core nanocapsules is a promising technique to improve the fastness and longevity of repellents on functional textiles for insect control.

Automated summary

This study successfully applied poly(epsilon-caprolactone) lipid-core nanocapsules in mosquito-repellent spray formulations for various fabrics. The results showed that the nanocapsule formulations exhibited excellent resistance to washing and heating on cotton and polyester fabrics, without causing irritation to human skin. The treated fabrics demonstrated effective mosquito repellency, even after multiple cycles of washing and heating. The application of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) lipid-core nanocapsules shows promising potential for enhancing the longevity and effectiveness of insect repellents on functional textiles.