Encapsulation of N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) via miniemulsion polymerization for temperature controlled release

N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), an insect repellent, can be successfully encapsulated in poly(n-butyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) nanospheres via direct miniemulsion polymerization. Stable and low polydisperse nanospheres with a number average diameter of 114 +/- 37nm were obtained. It is shown that DEET is an effective costabilizer and that sodium lauryl sulfate is a suitable surfactant. The nanospheres glass-transition temperature (T-g) can be tuned by adjusting the ratio between n-butyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate in the monomer formulation. The repellent reduced the polymerization reaction rate and the copolymer molecular weight, and changed the nanoparticle morphology. The release rate of the encapsulated DEET provides repellency for over 9 h and is and more controlled when compared to the free DEET. Results show the mechanism of release is temperature dependent. At temperatures close to and lower than the polymer T-g, polymer relaxation is the limiting mechanism. At higher temperatures, Fickian diffusion limits the overall release. Thus, the DEET release rate can be tuned by adjusting the copolymer T-g. This ensures this material a great potential as temperature-dependent delivery system. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47139.