Kaduna professor creates fabric that repels mosquitoes

Professor Zakari Ladan of the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at Kaduna State University has secured a research grant worth Twenty Seven Million Twenty Thousand and Twenty Seven Naira (N27,020,027.00) through the TETFund 2020 National Research Fund intervention.

The project’s title is “Development of an eco-friendly mosquito repellent fabric embedded with nanoparticles encapsulated with Vitex negundo bioactive compounds,” according to a statement from KASU’s public relations officer, Adamu Nuhu Bargo. As the host institution and in partnership with Bingham University and Vaal University of Technology, South Africa, KASU has been awarded its first NRF/TETFund grant.

Prof. Ladan, the lead researcher, is an expert in organic/synthetic chemistry. He is joined by three co-researchers: Drs. B.J. Okoli, an organic chemist from Bingham University, Dr. U.D. Ejike, a biochemist from Bingham University, and Dr. M. Fanyana, a nanotechnology specialist from the Vaal University of Technology in South Africa.

The goal of the research is to create a fabric that repels mosquitoes by incorporating nanoparticles that are enclosed in Vitex negundo bioactive compounds. The mosquito-repellent fabrics created from this research are in the form of sleeping nightgowns with other bio-products like bio-insecticide sprays and repellence creams formulated with the plant’s bioactive constituent for the control of mosquito bites, as opposed to the continuous use of chemical insecticides or mosquito-treated nets with synthetic chemicals.

The project achieved its objectives with the following outcomes:Production of fabrics (nightgowns) embedded with nanoparticles encapsulated with V. negundo bioactive compounds for the control of mosquitoes. Attended two international conferences:

American Chemical Society International conference held at RMRDC, Abuja where a paper was presented on the topic: “Chemotaxonomy of Vitex negundo L. Essential Oil from Six States of the North-Central Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria (2022)”.

Paper presented at the International Conference on Health Access and Socio-Economic Development beyond COVID-19 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on the topic:”Antioxidant, Dermal and Acute Toxicological effects of Eucalyptus Camaldulensis (Dehn-Blakely) Essential Oil on Male Wistar Rats (2021)”.

Published seven (7) articles in high-impact factor journals and two (2) conference proceedings.

Patented a novel essential oil pilot plant that can isolate aromatic bioactive constituents from plants useful in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and flavour industries.

Organized NRF/ Tetfund workshop at Bingham University, Karu on the 22nd of June 2022 on the topic: “Malaria prevention and control measures using some plant bioactive constituents found in North central Geo-political zone of Nigeria”.

Formulated five different products using the isolated bioactive constituents of Vitex negundo plant to include the following: Mosquito repellent cream, Pure Eucalyptol oil, aerosol sprays, mosquito repellent spray fitted with fan etc.

Development of gloss and water-based mosquito repellent paint.

The NRF/TETFund grant under the supervision of Prof. Ben A. Chindo , Director of Research and Development has fulfilled the TETFund requirement with the successful implementation of the project objectives.

(Vanguard)