Source  Chemical Engineering Journal

Published  JUL 15 2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2025.163889

IF  13.2

Abstract

Mosquitoes pose a substantial menace to both human and veterinary health on a global scale, necessitating the effective and sustainable control measures. Conventional methods, such as indoor spraying and the application of insect repellent creams, are encumbered by limitations, including the burst release of active ingredients and concerns regarding skin permeation, highlighting the need for alternative delivery systems. The hybrid PVB/ZIF-8@TFT nanofiber membranes were developed via electrospinning through encapsulation of the insect repellent transfluthrin (TFT) within a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) matrix enhanced with ZIF-8. The inclusion of ZIF-8 resulted in enhanced thermal stability and hydrophobic properties of the nanofibers while achieving a TFT encapsulation efficiency of 65.42 similar to 87.86%. Furthermore, the ZIF-8-modified membranes demonstrated respectable PM2.5/PM10 filtration efficiency (>95%). Biological assays revealed that the hybrid nanofibers enabled prolonged sustained release of TFT, maintaining robust knockdown activity against Culex pipiens pallens for over 12 weeks. By integrating mosquito knockdown, air filtration, and controlled release into a single platform, this system represents a major advancement over existing mosquito control technologies. This work not only provides a practical, sustainable solution for public health pest management but also establishes a new paradigm for designing multifunctional vector control materials.