Prof. Zakari Ladan, Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Kaduna State University (KASU), and other research colleagues, have developed mosquito repellent fabric.
In a statement by the Public Relation Officer of KASU, Adamu Bargo, in Kaduna on Sunday, the institution said this is part of its efforts to end the malaria outbreak.
Bargo said the product is the result of over N27 million Research Grant, under the 2020 National Research Fund (NRF), from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
“This is the first NRF/TETFund grant that KASU has won as a host Institution, in collaboration with Bingham University and Vaal University of Technology, South Africa,” he said.
He defined his research topic as “Development of Environmentally Friendly Mosquito Repellent Fabrics, Embedded with Nanoparticles Encapsulated with Vitex Negundo Bioactive Compounds”.
He said that Ladan, the lead researcher, specializing in organic and synthetic chemistry, conducted the research along with three others.
The spokesperson said other researchers are; Dr Bamidele Okoli, an organic chemist from Bingham University, Dr Uju Ejike, a biochemist from Bingham University and Dr Mthunzi Fanyana, a nanotechnologist from Vaal University of Technology, South Africa.
He added that the nightgowns are made of fabric, instead of using chemical insecticides or mosquito nets treated with synthetic chemicals.
Bargo explained that the fabric is embedded with nanoparticles packed with the bioactive compound Vitex Negundo to control mosquitoes.
“The research is focused on the production of anti-mosquito fabrics, which are fitted with nanoparticles encapsulated with the active constituents of the bioactive compounds Vitex Negundo.
“The type of anti-mosquito fabric developed from this research is in the form of sleepwear with other bio products.
“These include bio-insecticide sprays and repellent creams, formulated with plant bioactive constituents to control mosquito bites,” he said.
According to Bargo, the grant under the supervision of Prof. Ben Chindo, Director of Research and Development, KASU, has met the TETFund requirements, achieving the project’s objectives.
He said the project has achieved its target based on the expected results, including the production of nightgowns from mosquito repellent fabric.
Other results, he said, include two international conferences, and publishing seven articles in high-impact journals and two conference proceedings.
“The researchers also patented a novel essential oil pilot plant that can isolate aromatic bioactive constituents from plants, useful in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and flavor industries.”
Bargo added that the NRF/TETFund Workshop was also organized at Bingham University, Karu, on the topic: “Malaria Prevention and Control Measures, using Some Bioactive Constituents of Plants Found in the North Central Geo-political Zone of Nigeria.”
“Five different products are formulated, using bioactive constituents isolated from the Vitex Negundo plant, namely; mosquito repellent cream and pure eucalyptus oil,” he said.
Other listed cargo to include; aerosol sprays, mosquito repellent sprays with fans and glosses, and water-based mosquito repellent paints.