Mosquito-repellent textiles: a systematic review of material innovations, application principles and research trends

In many parts of the world, mosquito-borne illnesses have become a serious threat to public health. The development of mosquito-repellent textiles (MRTs) presents a promising approach to mitigating the risk of mosquito bites and the transmission of vector-borne illnesses. Despite the tremendous advancements in research over the years, it is uncommon to find a systematic review that maps the global research landscape with an in-depth analysis of MRT literature. Using the PRISMA approach, a total of 127 articles were carefully selected in March 2024 from Scopus and Google Scholar databases spanning 1989 to 2024. The data were carefully screened, extracted, and analyzed to understand the geospatial research collaborations, technological and materials innovations, application principles, and the current research trends in MRTs. Current innovations point to the fabrication of sustainable mosquito-repellent inherent polymers, and the use of numerical simulations to understand the complex phenomena of mosquito interactions with humans and textile substrates through machine learning. The worldwide research on MRT reveals an increasing trend toward the design and fabrication of sustainable MRTs using bio-based materials with significant efforts in the design of polymers with inherent mosquito-repellence properties. These findings will help researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders make informed choices about future research directions, funding priorities, and partnerships for the fight against mosquito-borne diseases globally.