Characterization of Hexagonal Boron Nitride’s Mechanics

Mosquito bites are responsible for spreading diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and dengue that account for over one million deaths per year. To mitigate the spread, insecticides and repellents are heavily used. However, studies show mosquitoes are developing resistances, escalating the need for alternative solutions. It is proposed here to investigate a new approach to mosquito bite prevention that utilizes a barrier coating applied directly on the skin to prevent the mosquito from penetrating the skin. The particles of interest are hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a ceramic 2D material that is safe for skin contact and widely used in cosmetics. The proposed study will investigate a framework for guiding how 2D hBN particles can be formulated into a topical cream that, when applied to the skin, forms a multilayer protective coating capable of withstanding the forces exerted by a biting mosquito.

Faculty Supervisor:

Changhong Cao

Student:

Partner:

Drexel University

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Nanotechnology; Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Environmental Science and Technology

University:

McGill University

Program: