Fabric infused with a botanical repellent for protection against mosquitoes

Abstract

Mosquito resistant apparel has become increasingly sought-after due to the rise in vector-borne illnesses such as the Zika Virus, Malaria, and Dengue Fever. Botanical insect repellents have been introduced to the market for consumers that desire a natural solution involving no pesticides or added chemicals. Fabric swatches consisting of 80% nylon and 20% elastane were separately treated with an organic repellent using a patented nonwoven vessel. The fabrics were then tested for effectiveness in repelling the mosquito Aedes aegypti using an arm-in-cage assay, the most commonly used method for mosquito repellents. The repellents were also evaluated and rated by study participants according to their preference for the appeal of the scent. The treatment method is user-friendly, enabling consumers to treat their clothing with an organic insect repellent as opposed to applying a synthetic chemical to their clothing and skin. The infused fabrics showed to be effective at repelling mosquitoes for up to 8 h after repellent infusion.

Keywords:

• Infused
• repellent
• fabric
• protective
• garment
• insect

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all participants of the study for their cooperation. The authors would also like to thank the researchers of the NCSU Dearstyne Entomology Lab for providing the knowledge and facilities necessary to conduct mosquito testing. In addition, the authors would like to thank the NC State Chancellor’s Innovation Fund for support and interest in this venture.

Disclosure statement

The datasets supporting the conclusions of this article is included within the article and its additional files. There are no known competing interests regarding this research. Funding sources include the NC State Chancellor’s Innovation Fund.

Authors’ contributions

Lilah Halbkat designed and acquired data for the odor study as well as drafted and interpreted the data for this publication. Andre J West was one of the developers of this novel approach and patented vessel as well as provided expertise involving technical apparel knowledge, research design, and critical revisions. Grayson Cave and Nicholas Travanty helped prepare and conduct arm-in-cage tests for this publication as well as providing valuable data analysis. Dr. Kun Luan offered skilled statistical analysis and chart building for analysis and draft of the publication. Charles S. Apperson offered highly technical expertise, assisted in data collection, as well as critical editing for compelling intellectual content. Emiel DenHartog, Marian McCord, and Michael Roe provided funding assistance and intellectual expertise.

Figure 1. Diagram of arm-in-cage test.