Polymers for Environmental Release

Designing polymers for applications where recovery is impossible

Many polymer materials are intentionally or inevitably released into complex environments. Whether used in agriculture, personal care, healthcare, coatings or functional additives, these materials cannot simply be collected and recycled after use. Instead, they must combine excellent performance during operation with environmentally responsible behaviour afterwards.

At SPC, we develop polymers for environmental release, in which molecular structure determines not only function but also transport, stability and environmental fate. By combining precision polymer synthesis, colloid science and bio-based materials, we create polymer systems that operate reliably in biological and environmental environments while minimizing long-term persistence.

A major strength of our group is the ability to bridge molecular structure → colloidal structure → biological performance → environmental fate. Starting from well-defined macromolecules, we design polymer colloids, nanoparticles, nanocapsules and self-assembled systems using self-assembly, microemulsion and miniemulsion techniques. Their behaviour is investigated using advanced characterization methods including static and dynamic light scattering, SANS, NMR spectroscopy, AFM, electron microscopy and biological assays, allowing us to establish predictive structure–function–fate relationships.

Our research spans mainly two complementary application domains.

We translate concepts from targeted drug delivery to plants, developing biodegradable polymer carriers that replace conventional spraying with precision delivery technologies. Our research includes lignin nanoparticles, polyphosphoester nanocarriers, cubosomes and biodegradable colloids capable of transporting agrochemicals through plants while minimizing environmental losses and microplastic formation.

Recent work has demonstrated enzyme-responsive lignin nanocarriers for the treatment of grapevine trunk diseases, polymeric transport systems capable of systemic movement within plants, and biodegradable colloidal carriers for sustainable crop protection. More recently, we have expanded these concepts towards dual-responsive lignin nanoparticles and programmable polymer delivery systems that respond to biological signals within plants.

The molecular principles developed for environmental systems also enable advanced biomedical materials. We design biodegradable polymer micelles, nanoparticles and nanocapsules for drug delivery and molecular imaging, while replacing persistent fluorinated materials with sustainable polymer alternatives.

Our work includes biodegradable ³¹P MRI-visible polyphosphoesters, polymeric ultrasound contrast agents and multifunctional nanocarriers that combine imaging with therapeutic delivery. Rather than focusing solely on performance, we increasingly integrate sustainability into biomedical materials by developing degradable colloids that minimise environmental accumulation after clinical use.

Across all applications, the scientific question remains the same:

How can molecular polymer design control function, transport and fate in complex biological and environmental systems?

Answering this question enables the development of polymer materials that not only perform their intended function but also transform responsibly after use. This concept forms one of the central research directions of SPC and directly supports our vision of designing polymers for their entire life cycle.

Selected publications:

Azhdari, S.; Gröschel, A.; Wurm, F. R. Biodegradable and Water-Soluble Polymers in Block Copolymer Architectures. Polym. Degrad. Stab. 2025, 111749

S.J. Beckers, A.H.J. Staal, C. Rosenauer, M. Srinivas, K. Landfester, F.R. Wurm, Targeted Drug Delivery for Sustainable Crop Protection: Transport and Stability of Polymeric Nanocarriers in Plants, Advanced Science 8(11) (2021) 2100067

J. Fischer, S.J. Beckers, D. Yiamsawas, E. Thines, K. Landfester, F.R. Wurm, Targeted Drug Delivery in Plants: Enzyme-Responsive Lignin Nanocarriers for the Curative Treatment of the Worldwide Grapevine Trunk Disease Esca, Advanced Science 6(15) (2019) 1802315

T.O. Machado, J. Grabow, C. Sayer, P.H.H. de Araújo, M.L. Ehrenhard, F.R. Wurm, Biopolymer-based nanocarriers for sustained release of agrochemicals: A review on materials and social science perspectives for a sustainable future of agri- and horticulture, Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 303 (2022) 102645.