## 1 Introduction  
The use of natural products as a source of bioactive compounds has grown in recent years due to the extraction of secondary metabolites and their potential phytotherapeutic applications [1]. These extracts are typically characterized by the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpen, tannins, and/or phenols, which are heterogeneously distributed in whole plant systems. Furthermore, these components have been distinguished by their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral activities against various pathogens and insects [2]. Therefore, they have been widely applied in the pharmaceutical, sanitary, agricultural, and food industries [3]. In this sense, essential oils are natural substances synthesized and stored in specialized secretory cells or plant organs, such as glandular trichomes, resin ducts, or secretory cavities, and they play an important role in the protection and communication of plants with their environment [4]. These compounds are commonly extracted by hydrodistillation or steam distillation and consist of a complex mixture of monoterenes, sesquiterpenes, and their derivatives, such as alcohol, aldehydes, esters, and ketones [4]. They are described as volatile, aromatic, oily, biologically active components with low toxicity and low environmental effects; thus, they are widely used in industry as an alternative to the excessive use of antibiotics [5,6]. Several studies have recently been reported focusing on describing the main composition of essential oils in aromatic worldwide species and studying their antibacterial and antifungal activities [7,8]. In the present work, we focus on an essential oil produced by the native species _Laureliopsis philippiana_ ([PERSON] [PERSON], which belongs to the Monimiacea family and is mainly located in the forests of southern Chile and Argentina. This species has been traditionally used to treat headaches, colds, and nervous system disorders [9], and its antimicrobial and antifungal effects have recently been reported for bacteria of human interest, such as _Escherichia coli_ and _Enterobacter_[10,11]. However, the high volatility of _Laureliopsis philippiana_ essential oil affects its exposure to the environment, limiting its long-lasting bioavailability. Furthermore, its slight solubility and susceptibility to degradation in aqueous solutions caused by temperature, humidity, and light reduce its bioactivity. Moreover, oxidation of essential oils can produce radical reactive species [12]. In this context, the use of mesoporous nanomaterials aims to prevent rapid volatilization by enabling the controlled release of bioactive compounds [13]. Different kinds of mesoporous nanomaterials, including biodegradable biopolymer, silica nanoparticles, and hybrid nanomaterials, have successfully hosted volatile essential oils into nanoporous structures, demonstrating long-term antifungal and antibacterial activities [14, 15, 16]. For example, silica microcapsules allow the retention of fragrance release for up to 80 days [17]. Moreover, recent studies have reported advances in the surface modification of different structures to improve the release of volatile compounds with potential industrial use. Chemical and atmospheric-pressure plasma are some of the surface modification techniques that allow for the retention and release of essential oils [18,19]. In addition, functional biopolymers seem to be a potential option for improving the control release of volatile compounds [20]. In that sense, nanostructured porous silicon (nPsi), which can be obtained from electrochemical etching of silicon wafers in HF-based solutions, is one of the most promising nanomaterials for controlling the kinetic release of volatile compounds [21]. The mesoporous structure of nPsi can be easily tuned by controlling the main parameters of the fabrication process. In addition, its complex internal structure based on silicon nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous silicon matrix leads to high surface reactivity, which allows different kinds of functionalization processes [22].