Smart detergents developed by IIT Delhi to repel mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are carriers of various serious diseases that cause significant health risks, including malaria, chikungunya, dengue, and others.

These infections affect a lot of people worldwide every year, making effective mosquito control and prevention a critical public health priority.

Currently, the mosquito protection methods include liquids, coils, lotions, roll-ons, sprays, and patches. These products are designed to prevent mosquito bites, but each has limitations in effectiveness, duration, or ease of use, highlighting the need for better solutions.

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Nevertheless, these options have limitations in efficiently keeping mosquitoes away. For instance, dermal formulations like creams and lotions may lose effectiveness over time, which can increase the risk of mosquito bites and the associated diseases.

IIT Delhi develops mosquito-repellent detergents

To reduce mosquito bites, an IIT Delhi team led by Prof. Javed Nabibaksha Sheikh has developed new mosquito-repellent detergents.

The detergents are available in both powder and liquid formulations, while retaining equivalent wash-care characteristics.

Discussing the mosquito-repellent detergents, Prof. Javed Nabibaksha Sheikh noted, “We have developed innovative detergents to help protect people from serious mosquito-borne diseases. Laboratory testing by a commercial facility has confirmed their effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes.”

The study used the "hand-in-cage" method, in which volunteers slipped their hands, wrapped in fabric, into a cage containing starved mosquitoes. The number of mosquitoes that landed on the fabric was measured, revealing that fabrics laundered with these detergents significantly reduced mosquito landings.

How the detergents work and their benefits

Prof. Sheikh mentioned that a patent application has been filed. Mosquitoes can easily penetrate fabrics with their proboscis, so it is vital to keep them from landing. Fabrics treated with these detergents repel mosquitoes and reduce bites.

The detergents active ingredients interact with fabric fibers during washing, making them unattractive to mosquitoes. "They act on both the smell and taste receptors of the insects,” added Prof. Sheikh.

The mosquito-repellent properties are refreshed with each wash, preserving both efficiency and durability.