A novel 3D-printed wearable ring has been developed by scientists to keep mosquitoes and other insects at bay for an extended time period.

The researchers employed insect repellent "IR3535" to create the prototypes. This repellent has been used for years as a spray or lotion and provides several hours of protection. An insect-repelling substance is released when the active ingredient is "encapsulated" and given a particular shape, like a ring.

The research team carefully inserted the insect repellent into a biodegradable polymer using specialized 3D printing technology and then shaped the mixture of materials in various ways. The fundamental tenet is that the insect repellent′s constant evaporation creates an insect barrier. Temperature, concentration, and the type of polymer used are a few variables that affect how quickly an insect repellent evaporates.

Following numerous models and trials, scientists have concluded that the insect repellant requires almost a week and 37 degrees Celsius (body temperature) to evaporate completely. 

Experts stated that more study is needed to evaluate how well the rings work in real-world situations. The findings of the study are published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 

(Source: https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/scientists-develop-3d-printed-wearable-ring-to-repel-mosquitoes-440611)