Useful accessories: bracelets and rings will soon be able to protect us from mosquitoes
'13.10.2022'
Nadezhda Verbitskaya
A new device that repels mosquitoes has been developed in Germany. Using a 3D printer, the active ingredients are encapsulated and shaped into the desired shape. For example, a bracelet or a ring. Gradually releasing repellent, this accessory will protect the wearer from mosquitoes for a week. hightech.
Experts from the University of Halle-Wittenberg chose IR3535 repellent from Merck for use in the prototype. It is found in mosquito sprays and does not irritate the skin. It has been used all over the world for many years. However, experts have come up with a way to diffuse the substance for a longer time by placing it inside a bracelet or ring.
To do this, they used a special method of 3D printing biodegradable polymer plastic. “The main idea is that the repellent is constantly released and forms a barrier for insects,” says Du Fanfan, head of the scientific project.
The evaporation rate depends on various factors such as temperature, concentration and structure of the polymer material. After a series of experiments and calculations, scientists have found that IR3535 will evaporate for at least a week at normal body temperature.
On the subject: Why some mosquitoes bite constantly, while others almost never: blood type, clothing color and body odor play a role
Although researchers have proven the possibility of creating accessories that repel insects, so far rings and other jewelry exist only as prototypes. Further trials are now needed to determine the effectiveness of the method in vivo. You may need to optimize the material after that.
The preference of mosquitoes to bite some and not touch others, scientists have explained in different ways. Some consider age to be a decisive factor, others argue that the matter is in the blood type, and still others that mosquitoes are attracted by a special smell from the mouth. Judging by the data of a new experiment, the matter may also be in the color of your clothes. Some colors, as it turns out, attract the attention of mosquitoes, while others they do not notice at all.
