A ring with an insect repellent effect looks like this. Credit: Uni Halle / Fanfan Du
A new printable and wearable insect repellent.
Scientists at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have invented a new type of repellent delivery device. The active ingredient is first “encapsulated” and molded into a suitable shape, such as a ring. When worn, it releases a long-lasting agent that repels mosquitoes.The team will International Journal of Pharmaceutics.
The researchers created a prototype using IR3535, an insect repellent developed by Merck.
“Mosquito repellent sprays containing IR3535 are very gentle on the skin and have been used all over the world for many years.
It usually comes in spray or lotion form and provides several hours of protection. But Androche and his colleagues are looking for ways to release agents for longer periods of time, such as encapsulating them in wearable rings and bracelets.
Using a special 3D printing technique, the repellent was carefully inserted into a biodegradable polymer, allowing the mixture of substances to be molded in a variety of ways. “The basic idea is that the repellent continuously evaporates and forms a barrier for the insects,” explained Fanfan Du, the lead author of the study and his MLU PhD candidate. increase.
The rate at which repellents evaporate depends on many factors, including temperature, concentration, and the structure of the polymer used. After conducting various experiments and simulations, the research team predicts that it will take him more than a week for the repellent to completely evaporate at a temperature of 37°C (98,6°F, i.e. body temperature). .
Researchers have proven it’s absolutely possible to develop a wearable insect repellent, but the rings and other forms created for the study are only prototypes. Further research is needed to determine how well it performs under real conditions. The encapsulating material can also be further optimized.
Reference: “Polymer/insect repellent system poly (3D printing of l-lactic acid)[{” attribute=””>acid)/ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate (PLLA/IR3535)” by Fanfan Du, Harald Rupp, Katalee Jariyavidyanont, Andreas Janke, Albrecht Petzold, Wolfgang Binder and René Androsch, 14 July 2022, International Journal of Pharmaceutics.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122023
The study was funded by the German Research Foundation and within the framework of the graduate school “AGRIPOLY” at MLU. “AGRIPOLY” is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
