Polymers and Nano Composites

During 2010 IAM received funding support from Sasol towards the development of a long life mosquito net (LLIN), from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for an insecticidal paint approach for indoor residual spray (IRS), and from Mozambique-South Africa to explore the use of local clays as controlled release devices for IRS insecticides.

The long-term hope is to replace DDT currently used in IRS practice with more benign alternatives. Current results indicate that this may indeed be possible. A low-cost way of stabilizing WHO-approved insecticides was identified and proven in Phase I laboratory tests. A low cost net design was found that also passed Phase I WHO Laboratory testing. The IAM also forms part of the soon-to-be-established Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control. Research funding for future LLIN and IRS work will be sought from various sources. The current plan foresees three product offerings: A multifilament knitted polypropylene-based LLIN, a non-DDT IRS, and a low-cost Netlon type net for indoor wall use. We are currently meeting and negotiating with the IDC, Sasol ChemCity and Moznet, a local company interested in local production of LLIN’s. A proposal was submitted to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for Phase II & III field trials.

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