Science

Fashion to fight malaria

Mosquito-repellent bodysuit on no ordinary catwalk

Fashion to fight malaria

A Kenyan scientist and a Gambian clothes designer have joined forces to fashion a garment that has the power to repel mosquitoes and beat malaria.

The one-piece multi-coloured bodysuit comes with an anti-mosquito mesh hood and a cape that contains mosquito repellent that has been bonded with the fabric’s fibres at the molecular level.

Because the repellent is embedded in the garment’s fabric using nanotechnology it does not dissipate like regular skin-based insecticides, according to the scientist and clothes designer from Cornell University in New York.

The ‘binding technology’ even allows up to three times more insecticide to be embedded within the fabric compared to normal sleeping nets, which are only dipped in solution and usually need to be replaced or re-dipped every six months.

Malaria, which is endemic in large parts of Africa, is a killer parasitic disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. It kills more than half a million people every year. In Africa, a child dies from malaria every minute.

The creators of the hooded bodysuit, Frederick Ochanda and Matilda Ceesay, have both witnessed family members fall ill with malaria. They hope that their innovative design will instigate further technological advances in the battle against Malaria.

Scientists are already working on a fabric that can potentially detect changes in temperature or light and so can secrete the amount of repellent needed accordingly. This would, for example, provide more protection at night when most mosquitoes prefer to feed.

At the very least, Ochanda and Ceesay hope that the technology can be used to craft stronger, longer lasting and more effective insecticide-treated bed nets.

“Although there are already mosquito nets being used, the solution isn’t foolproof,” Ceesay said, speaking at Cornell University.

“People are still getting sick and dying. We can’t get complacent. I hope my design can show what is possible when you bring together fashion and science and will inspire others to keep improving the technology.”

From Issue 1518

18th May 2012

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

Read more

University Challenge: Imperial dominates SOAS in qualifying round

News

University Challenge: Imperial dominates SOAS in qualifying round

Imperial College’s University Challenge team qualified for the second round of the hit quiz competition with a resounding victory of 220-115 against the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). The team had “a hell of a performance” according to host Amol Rajan, as they now proceed further into

By Mohammad Majlisi
Speaking to the students behind the Zero Index

Environment

Speaking to the students behind the Zero Index

Imperial uses its Zero Index to assess which fossil fuel companies it should maintain research partnerships with. In the most recent round of assessments, the University approved BP, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Petronas, Shell, TotalEnergies, and Woodside Energy. Felix has been reaching out to the staff and students who worked on the

By Oscar Mitcham