Citronella oil has been frequently used as an insect repellant and antibacterial agent for management of vector borne diseases. In this study, the fabrication of citronella oil microsponge loaded hydrogel (HG-COMS) was conceptualized in order to provide future insight for developing delayed release formulation. The hydrogel was characterized for drug content, drug interaction studies, spreadability, texture analysis and in vitro occlusive behaviour and results were found satisfactory. Further, in vitro antimicrobial studies were carried out to compare the antimicrobial inhibitory potential of the HG-COMS against citronella oil loaded hydrogel (HG-CO). HG-COMS formulation showed better antimicrobial efficacy than HG-CO (zone of inhibition of E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus; with P value less than 0.01, 0.001 and 0.05, respectively). In addition, the safety (irritation potential) of the oil loaded hydrogel formulation was assessed by Hen’s Egg Test Chorioallantoic Membrane (HAT-CAM) method. Mosquito repellent activity against Anopheles stephensi (malaria vector mosquito) was also performed in a net cage having blood starved female mosquitoes. The repellent potential of prepared HG-COMS (34% repellency for 6 h) was found dependent on release of CO from the microsponges as well as from the gel matrix. HET-CAM test revealed that HG-COMS (irritation score: 6.43 ± 0.77) was found very promising in comparison to HG-CO (irritation score: 12.77 ± 0.36), and was thus, considered safer for dermal use. HG-COMS showed reduced frequency of application, no skin irritation and potential for controlling A. stephensi for longer time periods. Hence, HG-COMS is found as a promising eco-friendly protective option, to minimize the burden of mosquito-transmitted diseases, especially malaria in future.

香茅油常被用作控制媒介传播疾病的驱虫剂和抗菌剂。在这项研究中，对香茅油微海绵负载水凝胶（HG-COMS）的制备进行了概念化，以便为开发延迟释放制剂提供未来见识。对水凝胶进行了药物含量，药物相互作用研究，铺展性，质地分析和体外闭塞行为的表征，结果令人满意。此外，进行了体外抗菌研究，以比较HG-COMS对负载香茅油的水凝胶（HG-CO）的抗菌抑制潜力。HG-COMS制剂显示出比HG-CO（抑制大肠杆菌，铜绿假单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌; P值分别小于0.01、0.001和0.05）。另外，通过亨氏蛋测试绒膜尿囊膜（HAT-CAM）方法评估了载油水凝胶制剂的安全性（刺激潜力）。对斯蒂芬按蚊的驱蚊活性（疟疾媒介蚊子）也在具有血液饥饿的雌性蚊子的网笼中进行。发现制备的HG-COMS的驱避潜力（6小时的驱避度为34％）取决于CO从微海绵和凝胶基质中的释放。HET-CAM测试显示，与HG-CO（刺激评分：12.77±0.36）相比，发现HG-COMS（刺激评分：6.43±0.77）非常有前途，因此被认为更安全用于皮肤。HG-COMS的使用频率降低，没有皮肤刺激，并且有可能在更长的时间内控制A. stephensi。因此，HG-COMS被认为是一种有前途的环保保护措施，可以最大程度地减少蚊子传播疾病（尤其是疟疾）的负担。