Disease & Vector Studies II
Disease & Vector Studies II
Prototype electrospun monofilament microfiber textiles were fabricated using “fresh” or recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (from plastic drink bottles) impregnated with DEET, picaridin, or a recycled PET 1:1 blend of both produced by the Naval Research Laboratory, Chemistry Division. Target goal for materials was ≥80% mosquito repellency for ≥2 wks. Laboratory repellency bioassays were conducted in screened 3.8 diam by 30.5 cm glass cylinders using female Aedes aegypti. Fresh and recycled PET fibers with DEET provided >95% repellency through 24 h. Of these, only recycled-DEET fibers continued to provide >80% repellency for 2 wks then decreased below this level for the rest of the 5 wk study. Fresh PET textile with picaridin provided ~55% mosquito repellency at 0 h, spiked to nearly 90% at 24 h, and decreased to < 60% thereafter. Mosquito repellency of recycled PET fibers with picaridin was about 83% at 0 h but quickly lost efficacy afterward and remained at < 65% thereafter. Repellency of 1:1 DEET/picaridin recycled PET fibers provided >97% repellency through 24 h, continued at >90% for 2 wks, then decreased to < 75% for the remainder of testing. In summary, impregnating repellents into PET fibers was successful from both a textile standpoint and for mosquito repellency. The recycled PET DEET and 1:1 blend textiles met the repellency criteria of ≥80% for 2 out of the 5 wk trials. Based on the results of this study, we continue to investigate novel, wearable textile repellent-impregnated materials capable of large-scale textile manufacturing for improved long-lasting protection of fielded military personnel against host-seeking mosquito vectors.