Gates of the Kaduna State University (KASU).
The authorities of the Kaduna State University (KASU), North-West Nigeria, have happily announced the development of a mosquito repellent fabric by a team of scientists at the institution.
The team includes Professor Zakari Ladan of the KASU Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry and other co-researchers.
The Public Relations Officer of KASU, Mr. Adamu Bargo, dispensed the joyful news in a statement on Sunday from Kaduna, a state that has been mostly associated with bad news in recent years, as insecurity and killings ruled the roost.
The development by the KASU scientists, according to Bargo, was part of the institution’s efforts aimed at ending the malaria scourge.
Bargo explained further that the product was the outcome of over N27 million research grant, under the 2020 National Research Fund (NRF), of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
“This is the first NRF/TETFund grant won by KASU as the host Institution, in collaboration with Bingham University and Vaal University of Technology, South Africa,” he said.
He identified the research topic as “Development of an Eco-friendly Mosquito Repellent Fabric, Embedded with Nanoparticles Encapsulated with Vitex Negundo Bioactive Compounds”.
He said that Ladan, the principal researcher, with specialty in organic and synthetic chemistry, conducted the research alongside three others.
The KASU spokesperson said that the other researchers were Dr. Bamidele Okoli, an organic chemist from Bingham University; Dr. Uju Ejike, a biochemist from Bingham University; and Dr. Mthunzi Fanyana, an expert in nanotechnology from Vaal University of Technology, South Africa.
He added that nightgowns were produced from the fabric, rather than the continuous use of chemical insecticides or mosquito-treated nets with synthetic chemicals.
Bargo explained that the fabric was embedded with nanoparticles encapsulated with Vitex Negundo bioactive compounds for the control of mosquitoes.
“The research is focused on producing a mosquito-repellent fabric, embedded with nanoparticles encapsulated with the active constituents of Vitex Negundo bioactive compounds.
“The type of mosquito-repellent fabrics developed from this research is in the form of sleeping nightgowns with other bio-products.
“They include bio-insecticide sprays and repellent creams, formulated with the plant’s bioactive constituent for the control of mosquito bites,” he said.
According to Bargo, the grant under the supervision of Prof. Ben Chindo, Director of Research and Development, KASU, has fulfilled TETFund’s requirements, having achieved the project’s objectives.
He said that the project had achieved its objectives based on the expected outcomes, including the production of the nightgowns from the mosquito repellent fabric.
He noted that other outcomes included two international conferences, and the publishing of seven articles in high-impact factor 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 flavour industries,” Bargo said.
He added that an NRF/ TETFund Workshop was also organised at Bingham University, Karu, on the topic: “Malaria Prevention and Control Measures, using Some Plant Bioactive Constituents Found in North Central Geo-political Zone of Nigeria.”
Bargo said: “Five different products were formulated, using isolated bioactive constituents of Vitex Negundo plant, namely, mosquito repellent cream and pure eucalyptus oil.”
He listed others to include aerosol sprays, mosquito repellent spray fitted with fan and gloss, and water-based mosquito repellent paint.
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