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Authors
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Ferreira, I. ; Brünig, H. ; Focke, W. W. ; Boldt, R. ; Androsch, R. ; Leuteritz, A.
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Title
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Melt-spun poly(D,L-lactic acid) monofilaments containing N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide as mosquito repellent
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Date
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30.01.2021
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Abstract
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Malaria is still a major tropical disease, with Africa particularly burdened. It has been proposed that outdoor protection could aid substantially in reducing the malaria incidence rate in rural African communities. Recently, melt-spun polyolefin fibers containing mosquito repellents have been shown to be promising materials to this end. In this study, the incorporation of N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET)—a popular and widely available mosquito repellent—in commercially available, amorphous poly(D,L-lactic acid) (PDLLA) is investigated with the aim of producing biodegradable mosquito-repelling filaments with a reduced environmental impact. It is shown to be possible to produce macroscopically stable PDLLA-DEET compounds containing up to 20 wt.-% DEET that can be melt-spun to produce filaments, albeit at relatively low take-up speeds. A critical DEET content allows for stress-induced crystallization during the spinning of the otherwise amorphous PDLLA, resulting in the formation of a-crystals. Although the mechanical integrity of the filaments is notably impacted by the incorporation of DEET, these filaments show potential as materials that can be used for Malaria vector control.
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Journal
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Materials (Open Access) 14 (2021) 638
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DOI
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https://doi.org/10.3390/MA14030638
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