α-Amylase triggered carriers based on cyclodextrin anchored hollow mesoporous silica for enhancing insecticidal activity of avermectin against Plutella xylostella

α-Amylase-responsive carrier for controlled release of avermectin (AVM) was prepared based on α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) anchored hollow mesoporous silica (HMS) using α-CD as a capping molecule. The release of AVM was studied at different temperatures, pH values and in the presence or absence of α-amylase. The results revealed that the AVM-encapsulated controlled release formulation (AVM-CRF) has a drastic enzymatic dependence, an excellent encapsulation efficacy reaching 38%, and outstanding UV and thermal shielding ability. The AVM-CRF biological activity survey shows excellent toxicological properties against Plutella xylostella larvae, which confirms that α-CD caps could be uncapped enzymatically in vivo and release AVM, inducing P. xylostella larval death. AVM-CRF has a notable capability to keep 0.6 mg L −1 AVM biologically active until 14th day with 83.33% mortality of the target insect, which was 40% higher than that of treated with AVM commercial formulation. The study provides a theoretical basis for the application of pesticide reduction.