Microorganism-based monodisperse microcapsules: encapsulation of the fungicide tebuconazole and its controlled release properties

Abstract

The design of an ideal monodisperse microcapsulation system, which could meet the need for prolonged and better control of drug administration, is a great challenge. Herein cyanobacteria cells served as a natural environmentally-friendly wall material to encapsulate the fungicide tebuconazole (TEB), and then urea–formaldehyde (UF) resins were automatically coated on it via electrostatic interactions. By this means, monodisperse TEB–PCC@UF microcapsules were achieved, which not only can effectively control the drug release rate but also depress the initial “burst effect” to some degree. A bioactivity experiment showed that TEB–PCC@UF microcapsules authentically prolonged the antifungal effects, and were very efficacious in controlling wheat powdery mildew compared with the commercial formulation.