Polysaccharide‐Based Microcapsules Functionalized With Essential Oils for Mosquito‐Repellent Textiles: A Review

ABSTRACT Climate change has disrupted the natural balance, and one of the most worrying consequences is the expansion of the range of disease‐transmitting vectors, such as mosquitoes. The use of natural substances to control mosquito‐borne disease transmission is a promising alternative, especially when encapsulation techniques are used to protect the bioactive compounds and promote prolonged release. Recently, polymeric microcapsules containing essential oils (EOs) have found numerous applications in textile materials and finishes, particularly for active mosquito and vector repellency. This paper reviews the application of EOs microencapsulated in polysaccharide matrices for the development of mosquito‐repellent textiles. Encapsulation techniques are critically analyzed in terms of their advantages and limitations, with particular emphasis on their performance in textile applications. Fabric impregnation methods are also examined, highlighting their role in enhancing repellent efficacy. Polysaccharide‐based microcapsules produced via complex coacervation are widely recognized for operating under mild processing conditions and providing high encapsulation efficiency, representing a potentially cost‐efficient alternative, depending on formulation and scale, than other encapsulation methods, such as ionic gelation, layer‐by‐layer, and spray/freeze‐drying. These microcapsules can then be incorporated into fabrics by methods such as coating or impregnation, guaranteeing a chemical functionalization of the EOs with repellent and wearable properties. The polysaccharides most used recently and deviated from chitosan, starch, guar gum, gum Arabic, pectin, and cellulose‐based materials are also described in depth. Consequently, the criteria established for the selection of a specific method for the preparation of polysaccharide microcapsules incorporated with EOs present their advantages and limitations, as selected polymer shells, repellent carriers, and EOs, based on the final application in textiles. Finally, current trends in the biodegradable microcapsule's polysaccharide repellence‐based are identified, and guidance on future developments.