Abstract
Electrospun beta-cyclodextrin (βCD)-based polymers can combine a high surface-to-volume ratio and a high loading/controlled-release-system potential. In this work, pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA)/βCD-based nanosponge microfibers were used to study the capability to host a common insect repellent (N,N-diethyl-3-toluamide (DEET)) and to monitor its release over time. Fibrous samples characterized by an average fibrous diameter of 2.8 ± 0.8 µm were obtained and subsequently loaded with DEET, starting from a 10 g/L diethyl ether (DEET) solution. The loading capacity of the system was assessed via HPLC/UV–Vis analysis and resulted in 130 mg/g. The releasing behavior was followed by leaving fibrous DEET-loaded nanosponge samples in air at room temperature for a period of between 24 h and 2 weeks. The releasing rate and the amount were calculated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the release of the repellent was found to last for over 2 weeks. Eventually, both the chemical composition and sample morphology were proven to play a key role for the high sample loading capacity, determining the microfibers’ capability to be applied as an effective controlled-release system.
Highlights
Intensification of human travel and transcontinental commerce are the main causes related to the spreading of most of the emerging infectious diseases
We investigated the capability of such fibrous βCD-based nanosponges to host chemicals, in this case, a common insect repellent (DEET), and to gradually release them over time
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), triethylamine, pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), ethyl acetate, diethyl ether (DEET), and ethyl ether were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (Darmstadt, Germany) and were used as received. βCD was provided by Roquette Italia (Cassano Spinola, Italy) and was dried in an oven at 100 ◦ C up to a constant weight before use
Summary
Intensification of human travel and transcontinental commerce are the main causes related to the spreading of most of the emerging infectious diseases. DEET-based-formulation drawbacks could be loading the molecule into a proper absorbent system, such as a high-surface-to-volume-ratio matrix. In this way, the contact between the repellent and both skin and fabrics would be minimized. The system described displayed weak repellency effects against mosquitoes This behavior was related to a slow DEET volatilization from the matrix, likely as a result of a small loaded quantity and a strong interaction between the repellent and fabric. Obtaining fibers starting from a water-soluble βCD-based polymer would offer the possibility to obtain a high-surface-to-volume-ratio product, capable to entrap guest molecules and release them over the time. The fibrous nanosponges were obtained by thermally treating an electrospun mat, processed starting from a water-soluble βCD/PMDA polymer
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