IIT Delhi Researchers Create Innovative Smart Mosquito-Repellent Detergents
New Delhi: Mosquitoes spread many diseases, including malaria, dengue, and chikungunya. Currently, the available protective measures against mosquitoes include liquids, coils, lotions, creams, roll-ons, sprays, and patches.
However, these options come with their limitations in effectively repelling mosquitoes. For instance, topical formulations like creams and lotions may lose their effectiveness over time, which can increase the risk of mosquito bites and the associated diseases.
To address the issue of mosquito bites, a research team at IIT Delhi, led by Prof. Javed Nabibaksha Sheikh, Dept. of Textile and Fibre Engineering, has developed innovative mosquito repellent detergents. These detergents are available in both powder and liquid forms and maintain comparable wash-care properties.
Speaking about the mosquito-repellent detergents, Prof. Javed Nabibaksha Sheikh said, “We have developed smart detergents to protect people from dangerous mosquito-borne diseases. The products have been tested in a commercial laboratory and have proven effective at repelling mosquitoes. The testing involved a "hand-in-cage" method, where volunteers inserted their hands, covered with fabrics, into a box containing starved mosquitoes.
The number of mosquitoes landing on the fabric was then evaluated. Fabrics washed with our detergents demonstrated a significant reduction in mosquito landings.” According to Prof. Sheikh, they have filed a patent application for the detergents.
Since a mosquito's proboscis can easily penetrate fabric structure, it is crucial to deter them from landing on textiles. Textiles washed with these smart detergents become unattractive to mosquitoes, thus helping to prevent bites.
“The active components of detergents interact with fibers during the washing process, making them less attractive for mosquito landing. The active components work on both the smell and taste sensors of the mosquitoes,” Prof. Sheikh added.
As textiles are frequently washed, the mosquito-repellent properties are regenerated with each wash, ensuring both efficiency and durability.
Stuti Tiwari joined Medical Dialogues in 2025 as a Hindi Content Writing Intern. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Delhi. With a strong interest in health journalism, digital media, and storytelling, Stuti focuses on writing, editing, and curating Hindi health content. She works on producing informative, engaging, and accurate articles to make healthcare news and updates more understandable and relatable for Hindi-speaking audiences.