Mathematical road map and textile testing standards for insecticide-free, mosquito bite proof clothing

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

12:15 PM – 12:30 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 221 B, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

RR

R. Michael Roe, Ph.D. (he/him/his)

William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Co-Author(s)

KL

Kun Luan

Post Doctoral Researcher
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
GC

Grayson L. Cave, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Student
North Carolina State University
Cary, North Carolina

Mosquito bite resistant garments are treated with an insecticide bound to fabric that can survive washing. At NCSU, methods were developed to produce mosquito bite resistant fabrics based on textile structure alone (no insecticides) and used to make military clothing and garments for everyday life. They look like clothing already used by the military and public, are bite proof, and are comfortable to wear. The rationale for the method(s) of bite resistance will be discussed along with a mathematical model that predicts the level of bite resistance for different methods for fabric construction. Standard methods are described to measure textile bite resistance, i.e., an artificial arm, arm-in-cage, and walk-in-cage assays, that minimize human exposure and provide a real world measure of mosquito bite protection.