Nanoscaled biocides

The use of biocides is essential in many applications to reduce or prevent microbial contamination. The use of biocides is often done at very high initial concentrations due to their solubility and their fast release. This introduces excessive biocide concentrations into the environment, resulting in environmental damage.

The release behavior of biocides is highly dependent on the surface area of the biocide particles (the higher the surface area, the faster the release). Encapsulated biocides with an adapted surface-to-volume ratio can combine the best possible microbial efficiency with the lowest possible environmental impact via delayed release (named by IUPAC as one of the 10 most sustainable chemical approaches for the future).