CUVET Researchers Develop Nanotechnology-Based Pet Products

Researchers from the Biochemistry Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Chulalongkorn University (CUVET) have developed a “Dust Mite Repellent Herbal Spray” and “Pet Deodorizing Spray from Mangosteen Peel Extract” by applying nanotechnology to pet products to increase their potency. Guaranteed to be safe, both products are now available through CUVET startups.

A smelly puppy or a cat that has lost its hair due to self-grooming could be signs of an allergic reaction to dust mites or bacteria nesting in the skin of our four-legged friends. There are many solutions, but one of the most popular is the use of products such as dust mite repellent sprays, bath sprays, pet deodorizers, etc., which are available in many brands in the market. But how effective and safe are these products for our pets.

This question sparked the interest of researchers from the Biochemistry Unit, CUVET to research and develop “Herbal Dust Mite Repellent Spray” and “Pet Deodorizer Spray from Mangosteen Peel Extract” using nanotechnology to improve product performance. Guaranteed to be the best innovation with a gold medal and two special awards from the 13th International Innovation Competition 2022 in Taipei, Taiwan.

Nano dust mite repellent herbal spray offers 100 percent protection and is completely safe for animals and humans.

Not only humans, pets such as dogs and cats are also allergic to dust mites. Common allergy symptoms include itching, tearing and purulent skin, or if the pet has a severe allergic reaction this can result in death.

“Dust mites” are tiny organisms invisible to the naked eye. They mix in the air inside the house, on mattresses, pillows, blankets, sofas, etc. There are many ways to get rid of dust mites, such as washing and exposing them to the sun or using a tumble dryer at 60 degrees Celsius or higher. When cleaning the house, the vacuum cleaner can only remove the dust mites on the surface, so the herbal dust mite repellent spray is a popular choice for consumers because it is easy and energy efficient.

However, herbal dust mite repellent sprays available on the market are alcohol-based sprays, so they smell strong and evaporate quickly, are short-lived, and are wasteful. So, the CUVET research team has come up with an innovation to eliminate these drawbacks with nanotechnology.

Head of the Dust Mite Repellent Herbal Development Project, Ms. Nanthida Kunnasut, Scientific Services Officer, Biochemistry Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, explains that “Our product is made of three herbs: clove, cinnamon, and lemon grass. It smells great and removes dust mites effectively. We use nanoparticles to encapsulate the herbs, allowing the alcohol to be more soluble in water. This allows the product to work for up to 7-8 hours. Since we don’t have to spray directly on the pet, the chances of an allergic reaction are very low.”

“Nano dust mite herbal spray is easy to use. Just spray it on the surface of mattresses, pillows, mosquito nets, sofas, furniture, floors, carpets and pet sleeping pillows once a week.” Ms. Nantida added.

Teerapong Yata, Assistant Dean of CUVET Enterprise, and innovation research and development consultant explained that the product development process consists of 3 main steps, starting from the preparation of herbal extracts, encapsulation of herbal extracts with nanoparticles using a system called nanostructured lipid carriers, and finally, analysis of nanotechnology properties. . After completing the third step, the research team sent the product for testing and analysis at the Siriraj Dust Mite Service and Research Center (SDMC).

“Our dust mite repellent herbal nano spray removes 100% of dust mites within 24 hours. Every ingredient is cosmetic grade, so it’s safe for humans and animals, and hypoallergenic to the skin. Those who have tried our products are satisfied and have not reported any allergic reactions.” Dr Teerapong explained the results of product performance tests.

Currently, the research team has transferred the dust mite spray production technology to an OEM company, which is CUVET’s start-up for commercial production and distribution. In the future, moreover, there are plans to develop other insecticide products that annoy pets, such as bed bugs, fleas, and ticks.

Deodorize and Nourish Pet Hair with Nano-Spray of Mangosteen Peel Extract

Besides pet skin problems and allergic reactions caused by dust mites, “bad smells” is another problem that bothers pet owners equally. Foul odor caused by bacteria on the skin can occur every day. If left for a long time, it can cause pets to get skin diseases. Bathing and cleaning is one way to suppress bad odors in pets. However, it should not be done too often (more than 1 – 2 times a week) because it will cause the pet’s skin to become dry and cause skin diseases.

This challenge sparked the idea for Ms. Sujin Sirisawadi, a specialty scientist from the Biochemistry Unit, CUVET, head of the Nano Fragrance Spray of the Mangosteen Peel Extract Development Project to develop an innovative product that helps inhibit odor-causing bacteria in pets.

“This product uses nano extract from mangosteen peel to help remove bad odors and nourish the skin. This product is also effective in inhibiting fungi and bacteria while curing skin inflammation. The spray absorbs well into the skin, is chemical free, has a long lasting fragrance, and is safe for humans and pets.” Mrs. Sujin revealed the highlights of innovation.

Dr. Teerapong said that the Nano Fragrance Spray from Mangosteen Peel Extract had been researched and tested to become a prototype product through a process that began with research on mangosteen extract called Alpha-Mangosteen in the form of nanotechnology, tested for its antibacterial properties, and then tested on pets. It received good feedback. No allergic reactions or irritation to pets have been reported.

“When sprayed on pets, the nanoparticles used to wrap the mangosteen extract will increase its potency and absorption into the skin to help inhibit bacteria. In addition, the raw material used in the spray has been chosen because it is very safe, and alcohol free, so it doesn’t dry out the skin of pets, nor does it harm them when they lick their hair.”

Apart from dogs and cats, in the future, the researchers plan to expand this research to include applications to other pets, such as rabbits, and beautiful birds, as well as developing other product forms, such as deodorizing pet shampoo made from mangosteen peel extract.

The research “Herbal Dust Mite Repellent Spray” and “Pet Fragrance Spray from Mangosteen Peel Extract” have received financial support from the Routine Grant for Research (R2R) and distributed by VBC Kittec Co., Ltd., a startup of the Biochemistry Unit, Faculty of Science Veterinary Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.

Source: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/