Grafting alginate biopolymers with p-menthane-3,8-diol: synthesis and application in sustainable mosquito-repellent textiles

Abstract

Sodium alginate, a natural polysaccharide with renewable, biodegradable and multifunctional characteristics, represents an ideal sustainable material for diverse industrial applications. However, its potential for developing eco-friendly mosquito-repellent textiles remains largely unexplored, with only limited studies reported to date. This research gap persists despite the significant global health threat posed by mosquitoes, which are among the most dangerous disease vectors worldwide and spread diseases that cause millions of deaths every year. In view of the challenges, such as high volatility rate and complex fabrication processes, posed by the application of mosquito repellents to clothing through spraying or micro-encapsulation methods at present, developing textiles with simple preparation, high-efficiency and long-lasting mosquito repellency offers a highly promising solution to mosquito-related health issues. In this study, an eco-friendly synthesis strategy for grafting alginate derivatives with p-menthane-3,8-diol was developed through acidification and esterification reactions using environmentally friendly and biocompatible sodium alginate (SA) as a raw material. Furthermore, by exploring the optimal mosquito repellent ratio and coating thickness through the system, the synthesized p-menthane-3,8-diol-grafted alginate derivatives could be applied to wearable textiles, such as ice sleeves, exhibiting excellent mosquito-repellent performance while balancing air and moisture permeability, effectively preventing mosquitoes from approaching humans.