Keeping Mosquitoes at Bay
Without Bug Spray
“The active ingredients found in repellents
were originally patented in the 1950s and ‘60s.
And since then, there’s been no motivation to
change,” said George Georgiades, the catalyst
behind the research and founder of Pest Natural.
“Not only is it unpleasant to apply these repellents,
but we also don’t know the long-term effects
of using chemical pesticides on our skin. So, it
became apparent that this area is ripe for new
technology to be brought to market.”
To get started, Georgiades contacted the Office of Technology
Licensing at the University of Florida to help him find a leading
group of researchers. That’s when he teamed up with Dr. Chris
Batich, a materials science and engineering professor at UF.
“Ultimately, we developed a prototype of a device with a zeroorder release rate, meaning that the active ingredients found
in the repellent continually release at the same rate over a long
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period of time—up to one month,” said
Batich, lead researcher on The Corridorfunded project. “In essence, it forms a
plume or a concentration of released
agent around you that keeps mosquitoes
away.”
With the prevalence of mosquitoes and
potential health risks of insect bites, the
applications for such a product are
endless. The device could be used in
home doorways, outside of a tent or
as a personal device attached to your
belt. And not only is the technology
practical, but it’s easy-to-use as well. By
simply squeezing the device, the repellent
begins releasing immediately, without
ever having to get hands or skin dirty.
Creating a sustained-release device was
no easy feat, however. The group of
researchers had to test countless polymer
films to determine which one released
the right amount of essential oils at the
right rate. It took months to find the right
combination, but thanks to funding from
the Florida High Tech Corridor Council’s
Matching Grants Research Program, the
venture was a success.
“This grant has been absolutely essential.
I just can’t say enough about it,” said
Georgiades. “I honestly don’t think the
project would have happened without
it—I really don’t. If it wasn’t for The
Corridor, I would have never done this.”