Eco-friendly essential oil-loaded coaxial electrospun fibers for sustainable control of Plutella xylostella

Plant essential oils are widely recognized for their insecticidal and repellent properties; however, their practical application in pest management is often constrained by poor stability and rapid volatilization. To address this limitation, we developed a sustained-release delivery system for Artemisia lavandulaefolia essential oil based on electrospinning technology. Chemical analysis identified 47 constituents in the essential oil, with 1,8-cineole as the dominant component (45.2 %). Three fabrication strategies—uniaxial electrospinning, uniaxial particle formation, and coaxial electrospinning—were systematically compared with respect to their sustained-release performance. Among them, coaxial electrospinning exhibited the most favorable release behavior, achieving a prolonged release period exceeding 42 days and showing excellent agreement with a first-order kinetic model (R² = 0.99). Bioassays demonstrated that the coaxial electrospun fiber membrane significantly disrupted key life-history traits of the target insect species, including a 26.9 % extension of larval development, a 52.8 % reduction in adult lifespan, a 50.0 % decrease in oviposition, and a 19.7 % reduction in fourth-instar body weight compared with the control. These results indicate pronounced adverse effects on insect growth and reproductive performance. Overall, this study presents an eco-friendly strategy for enhancing the persistence and biological efficacy of plant-derived insecticides. By integrating essential oils into a controlled-release electrospun fiber matrix, this work offers a promising platform for the development of more sustainable pest management technologies in agriculture. Application performance evaluation: (A) Fumigation toxicity test; (B) Behavioral choice assays; (C) Growth and development assessments. • Encapsulation of plant essential oil into coaxial electrospun fibers markedly enhanced insecticidal efficacy in an eco-friendly manner. • Multimodal bioactivities were demonstrated, including fumigant and repellent effects, as well as inhibition of larval growth, development, and oviposition. • This botanical sustained-release system provides an eco-friendly strategy for sustainable pest management.