Diatom frustules as a biobased sustainable delivery vehicle for controlled release applications

Purpose and goal:

The project should demonstrate the effect of using Algica® as a carrier material for encapsulation and controlled release within antifouling, wound care, and personal care. The active substances that should be encapsulated and released are Selektope® (antifouling), AMC-109 (wound care), and retinoids (personal care). The project aims to reach TRL 6.

To do this the project members will develop product prototypes for each market containing the active substances that has been encapsulated in Algica®. The product prototypes will then be tested in a relevant environment. Expected results and effects:

Controlled release is necessary to reduce the use and emissions of pharmaceuticals, retinoids, biocides and to achieve a long-lasting effect. However, today controlled release is achieved using carrier structures that are fossil based and environmentally unsustainable.

The project will make it possible for actors in the supply chain for respective industry to act on the society’s demand on sustainable solutions. This will be possible by choosing a biobased material from algae. Approach and implementation:

Swedish Algae Factory is responsible for project management, optimization of encapsulation and controlled release and work packages concerning sustainability and market readiness. I-tech (antifouling), Amicoat (wound care) and Selego (personal care) are responsible for developing and/or validating prototypes in their markets. RISE has expert competence within encapsulation and controlled release.

RISE will contribute to optimization of encapsulation and release, measure release and develop the product prototypes for the wound care market.