SBIR Phase I: A multi-armed and customizable polymer adhesive for expending lifetimes of active ingredients in topical products

这项小企业创新研究（SBIR）项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力将开发一种新的解决方案，帮助预防疟疾、寨卡病毒、登革热和基孔肯雅热等虫媒疾病。世界上一半以上的人口面临感染虫媒疾病的风险，到2021年，全球驱蚊剂市场预计将增长到110亿美元。使用个人驱蚊剂是预防虫媒疾病的一种很有希望的解决方案，但挑战包括坚持使用，因为产品可能只在几个小时内有效（摩擦或洗掉后效果更短）。所提出的技术是一种材料，以一种昂贵而有效的方式作为驱蚊剂的平台。这种材料具有超持久的功效，可定制，防水，不被血液吸收，涂抹在皮肤上时摸不到。这项技术可以扩展到其他应用，比如抗菌和防晒。SBIR一期项目拟开发一种平台技术，延长功能性皮肤产品的使用寿命。第一阶段的目标是：1)优化一种驱虫皮肤配方，其性能目标是：99%以上的功效至少3天，防水，不被血液吸收，不含合成驱虫剂，涂抹在皮肤上感觉不到触摸；2)探索聚合物和驱虫配方规模化生产的参数空间；3)进行测试，以确定驱蚊制剂与参考制剂相比的功效；4)证明在局部防晒和抗菌产品中使用的各种活性成分的延长寿命。第一阶段的工作将确定拟议平台的可行性，同时满足在预防病媒传播疾病方面的公认需求。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project will develop a new solution to help prevent insect-borne diseases, such as malaria, Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Over half the world’s population is at risk of contracting an insect-borne disease, and the global mosquito repellent market is expected to grow to $11 billion by 2021. Use of personal repellents is a promising solution to prevent insect-borne diseases, but challenges include adherence because products may only be effective for a few hours (and less when rubbed or washed off). The proposed technology is a material to serve as a platform for insect repellents in a costly and effective fashion. The proposed material enables ultra-long-lasting efficacy and will be customizable, waterproof, not absorbed into the bloodstream, and imperceptible to the touch when applied to the skin. The technology could be extended to other applications, such as antimicrobial use and sunscreen. This SBIR Phase I project proposes to develop a platform technology to extend the life of functional skin products. Phase I aims are to: 1) Optimize a skin formulation for repelling insects with performance goals: 99%+ efficacy for at least 3 days, waterproof, not absorbed into the bloodstream, containing zero synthetic repellents, and imperceptible to touch when applied to skin; 2) Explore the parameter space for manufacturing the polymer and insect repellent formulation at scale; 3) Conduct testing to determine efficacy of the insect repellent formulation compared to a reference formulation; 4) Demonstrate extended life of a variety of active ingredients for utilization in topical sunscreen and antimicrobial products. Phase I work will establish feasibility of the proposed platform, while meeting a recognized need in the area of protection from vector-borne illnesses.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.