Evaluating Graphene-treated Fabrics as an Innovative Platform for Enhancing Soldier Protection from Arthropod Vectors

Military personnel are highly vulnerable to arthropod-borne diseases, and current personal protective measures-especially pyrethroid-treated uniforms-have limitations in durability and efficacy against insecticide-resistant vectors. This study evaluated a novel non-insecticidal approach using graphene-treated fabrics to enhance soldier protection from mosquito bites. To evaluate the potential of graphene to prevent mosquito biting, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles albimanus biting rates were monitored on graphene-treated vs. control fabrics under an arm-in-cage protocol. Graphene was applied to military fabrics utilizing three distinct print patterns (thin lines, thick lines, and dots), which were then subjected to standard military wash protocols utilized for pyrethroid-treated fabrics (out to 50 wash cycles) prior to bite protection evaluations at four distinct wash levels (0X, 1X, 20X, and 50X). All graphene-infused fabrics produced a significant reduction in mosquito bites for at least one wash level against both mosquito species. Of the graphene print styles evaluated, the largest reduction in bites was observed in the thick lines at the 50X wash level (64.7% reduction in biting). This was followed by dot and thin line patterns, respectively (49.7% reduction and 39.8% reduction, respectively). Idiosyncratic effects were observed for specific mosquito species and print patterns, with An. albimanus bites being most significantly reduced by all graphene print patterns. These results demonstrated that graphene-treated fabrics could serve as a robust bite protective technology against host-seeking mosquitoes. This technology offers a promising supplement to existing pyrethroid-based defenses, potentially overcoming issues of chemical durability and insecticide resistance. In conjunction with pyrethroid treatment, integrating graphene into uniforms could provide soldiers with long-lasting protection against disease vectors.