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

在该项目的第一部分，开发了含有不同驱蚊剂的聚合物支架，包括避蚊胺、淫羊藿苷或香茅醛。挤压股被重新设计成小脚，并就其驱蚊效果进行了测试。个别项目伙伴进行的协调研究旨在发展马普托(莫桑比克)的研究能力，马普托是实地试件验收研究和实地原型测试的总部。所获得的结果证明，基于聚合物支架/药物装置的人类长期户外保护蚊子攻击的总体概念是非常有希望的，但有进一步改进的潜力。作为笼子试验的主要结果，人们发现，含药股提供了长期的局部保护，但需要更大的皮肤覆盖率才能提高装置的效果。建议通过使用由双组分纤维制成的针织面料来获得更大的覆盖率，该针织面料含有大量长时间释放的驱避剂。成功地进行了初步的纤维制备试验。基于在项目第一部分中获得的关于生物聚合物/药物体系PLLA/DEET的热力学和相行为的新知识，现在打算进一步发展制备含有驱避剂的纤维的想法/方法，以获得能够保护更大的皮肤区域以防止蚊子叮咬的织物。所有研究工作仍针对莫桑比克，以在该地点建立进一步的研究和教育能力，并培养人们保护自己的意识。

In the first part of the project polymer scaffolds holding different mosquito repellents including DEET, icaridin, or citronellal were developed. Extruded strands were re-designed to footlets and tested with respect to their mosquito-repellence efficacy. The concerted research performed by the individual project partners was targeted to the development of research capacity in Maputo (Mozambique) serving as headquarter for both in-field footlet-acceptance studies and in-field prototype testing. The results obtained prove that the general concept of long-lasting outdoor protection of humans for mosquito attacks, based on polymer-scaffold/drug devices is highly promising, however, with potential for further improvements. As a main result of foot-in-cage tests, it was found that drug-containing strands provide long-lasting local protection but that larger skin coverage is needed for increasing the efficacy of the device. Such larger coverage is suggested being obtained by employing knitted fabrics made from bicomponent fibers hosting large fraction of repellents to be released over long time. Preliminary fiber preparation tests were successfully performed. Based on the new knowledge about the thermodynamics and phase behavior of the biopolymer/drug system PLLA/DEET gained in the first part of project, it is now intended to further develop the idea/approach of preparation of repellent-containing fibers to obtain fabrics able to protect larger skin area for mosquito bites. Research efforts, all remain directed to Mozambique, to build at this location further research and educational capacities and develop people awareness for their own protection.