Incorporation of N,N,‐diethyl‐meta‐toluamide within electrospun nylon‐6/6 nanofibers

Abstract

AbstractEncapsulation of insect repellents is a key method of controlling their delivery and limiting unnecessary exposure to the wearer. Common topical repellents suffer from short lifetimes resulting in the need to frequently re‐apply to retain effectiveness. Herein, a strategy is employed whereby N,N,‐diethyl‐meta‐toluamide (DEET) is incorporated within electrospun nylon 6/6 nanofibers. Electrospinning from polymer solutions containing up to 50 wt% DEET relative to nylon has no detrimental effect on the fiber morphology and thermal analysis shows the final fibers can contain up to 29 wt% DEET. The effect of varying the concentration of nylon electrospinning solution on the fiber morphology and the retention of DEET is discussed. The rate constant for DEET release is calculated at room temperature and is used to estimate the estimated repellency of the fibers. The lifetime depends on the weight of material and the concentration of DEET, where the active lifetime for a lightweight fabric is estimated to be >200 h. We demonstrate electrospinning as a facile means to incorporate DEET within a polymer matrix and control its evaporation and highlight the possibility for the preparation of fabrics and textiles with long‐lasting, active insect protection.