3D-Printed Hydrogel Nanoplatforms for Sustainable Pest Control: Encapsulated Essential Oils as Biopesticides against Bemisia tabaci

The overuse of synthetic pesticides has raised significant concerns owing to their adverse environmental and health effects, fostering interest in sustainable alternatives for pest management. Essential oils have emerged as attractive biopesticide candidates because they offer eco-friendly insect control solutions. In this study, we developed 3D-printed hydrogel prototypes that combined sodium alginate, pectin, and Pluronic F127 with slow-release systems of geraniol and eugenol encapsulated in zein nanoparticles. The nanoparticles exhibited high encapsulation efficiency (>99%), with an average diameter of 318 ± 28 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.41 ± 0.05, and a zeta potential of 29 ± 2 mV, and remained stable for over 60 days. The printed hydrogel prototypes exhibited homogeneous structures and good mechanical stability. Biological assays with Bemisia tabaci revealed a significant attraction effect, particularly for the pectin-based prototypes, with attraction rates exceeding 50%. These findings demonstrate the potential of nanoencapsulated essential oils in 3D-printed devices as efficient attractants, contributing to the development of sustainable tools for integrated pest management programs.