Micro-Nanomaterials
Micro-nanomaterials are novel nanomaterials assembled by nanostructured units according to certain rules, which maintain the properties of nanomaterials such as high specific surface area and high reactivity. At the macroscopic level, these materials also overcome the structural instability of nanomaterials. What's more, the micro-nanomaterials constructed by nanostructured units are widely used in the field of pheromone controlled release due to the presence of voids between the units.
The micro-nanomaterials used for pheromone controlled release technology mainly include microcapsules and micro-nanofibers.
Microcapsules refer to materials that encapsulate the contents in a shell of polymeric material, the inner material named core material, and the outer material is called wall material. The wall material forms a continuous film on the surface of the core material, isolating the contents. After the special core material pheromone is microencapsulated, it will be slowly released under specific conditions. The release rate is affected by various factors, such as the thickness of the wall material, the size of the voids and the reaction types. The advantage of this method is that pheromones are not oxidized during the process of storage and release.
Instance
Pheromone controlled release microcapsules were prepared with gelatin (GE) and acacia gum (AG) as wall materials to achieve sustained release of dodecanol (C12OH), the active ingredient of pheromone. The release rate of the pheromone depends on the type of cross-linking agent. Compared with formaldehyde, the microcapsules prepared with glutaraldehyde as the cross-linking agent have higher cross-linking degree and lower sustained release rate. And they can realize the sustained release of pheromone. Besides, there is a "core-shell" structure in this microcapsule, the polymer is the shell, and C12OH is the core [1].
Micro-nanofibers are excellent pheromone sustained-release materials as well. The advantages of these materials lie in the diversity and maturity of the preparation methods of micro-nanostructures, and the preparation technology is easy to reach the industrialized level. One effective method is the preparation of ultrafine fibres by electrospinning technology. And the ultrafine nanofibers, which directly prepared from polymer solution through high voltage electrostatic action, have unique structures and superior properties. In summary, micro-nanofibers have good application prospects in the field of pheromone sustained-release.
Instance
Sex pheromones of olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, and olive moth Prays oleae are compounds 1,7-dioxaspiro [5.5] undecane (DSU) and (Z)-7-tetradecenal (7Z14ALD). These two pheromone components were miscible with polymeric materials polycaprolactone (PCL), cellulose acetate (CA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), respectively, and then electrospinning technology was used to prepare pheromone-containing Micro-nanofibers. Among them, the micro-nanofiber with PCL as the sustained-release material can release the pheromone for a period of more than 15 weeks, exhibiting excellent sustained release properties [2].
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References
- Kong, X.Z.; et al. Spreadable dispersion of insect sex pheromone capsules, preparation via complex coacervation and release control of the encapsulated pheromone component molecule. Biomed Microdevices. 2009. 11(1): 275-285
- Kikionis, K.; et al. Electrospun micro/nanofibers as controlled release systems for pheromones of bactrocera oleae and prays oleae. J Chem Ecol. 2017. 43(3): 254-262