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A -derived multifunctional biocomposite with antibacterial, mosquito-repellent, and biodegradable properties.
Summary
Scientists turned an invasive weed plant into a super-material that kills over 99% of harmful bacteria, repels mosquitoes, and fully breaks down in soil within two months—without leaving behind microplastic pollution. This eco-friendly material could be used to build sturdy but disposable panels for temporary clinics or infection barriers, making it especially useful in low-resource areas where both germs and mosquito-borne diseases are major health threats.
The increasing threat of healthcare-associated infections and mosquito-borne diseases demands new materials that combine antimicrobial protection, insect repellency, and biocompatibility. Here, we convert L. (SC), an ecologically harmful invasive weed, into a multifunctional biocomposite (SCZrB/WPU) by integrating SC root fibers, bamboo waste, zirconium phosphate (ZrP), and waterborne polyurethane (WPU). The resulting material exhibits >99.99% antibacterial efficacy against and , and >89.5% repellency against . It releases only 0.14 mg L formaldehyde, well below the most stringent indoor air quality standards. The biocomposite is fully biodegradable in soil (69.1% mass retention after 60 days) with no microplastic residues. Moreover, the composite fiberboard showed excellent water resistance, UV stability, and flame retardancy. With a flexural strength of 30.22 MPa, it can serve as a sturdy yet decomposable support in temporary medical facilities and infection-control barriers for public health applications. This work transforms an ecological liability into a sustainable material for public health and environmental barrier applications, offering a circular solution for low-resource settings where both infection and vector control are critical.