Project Details
Projekt Print View

Controlled release of volatile mosquito repellents from nanostructured polymers to reduce infectious tropical diseases: Part II: Bicomponent fibers as drug-release device

Subject Area Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry
Term from 2015 to 2021
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 270456781
 
Final Report Year 2021

Final Report Abstract

Main goal of the project was contributing to the further reduction of tropical infectious diseases in Africa. To reach this goal, specific tasks were defined, which included (a) building educational and research capacities in Mozambique, and (b) development of new tools for mosquito-bite related disease control under outdoor situations. Solving both tasks required intense collaborations between partners in Germany, South Africa, and Mozambique. As a result of the collaborations, it was achieved that at the University of Maputo facilities for physico-chemical testing of mosquito repellents, for testing the effectiveness of repellents using a sophisticated wind-tunnel device with an incorporated mosquito-tracking system, and for supply of mosquitoes for wind-tunnel tests were developed. Students and staff members of the University of Maputo were trained in operating these facilities as well as for field trials and community sociological surveys. Regarding the development of novel devices providing long-term protection for mosquitoes bites at outdoor conditions the concept of storing and slow-release of classical repellents in polymer matrices was followed, with the collaboration among the partners yielding insights into both fundamentals of polymer/repellent interactions and engineering of specific tools like repellent-containing sandals, with the latter also considering the design-needs of the local population in rural areas of Mozambique. The collaboration between institutions in Germany, in Mozambique, and in South Africa, finally, led to the development of a lasting research-network, with further student/staffexchange activities and joint research projects expected.

Publications

 
 

Additional Information

Textvergrößerung und Kontrastanpassung