Nanomaterials - Oxonica
(Isis - 573)
Oxonica is an international nanomaterials group, aiming to develop innovative commercial solutions using their expertise in the design and application of nanomaterials.
Oxonica's business model is to focus on its strength in identifying market opportunities, securing intellectual property and introducing new technology to market. The company has four operating divisions; Oxonica Energy, Oxonica Healthcare, Oxonica Materials and Oxonica Security.
Oxonica was spun-out by Isis in 1999 and floated on AIM in 2006.
Its commercialised products are:
- Optisol™ UV Absorber – a photostable UV absorber that provides enhanced and longer lasting protection against UVA in sun-care and anti-ageing products. Optisol™ also reduces the formation of free radicals produced from exposure to the sun and which are implicated in premature skin ageing. Boots Group Plc was the first to incorporate Optisol™ in their new Soltan Facial Sun Defense Cream.
- Envirox™ Fuel Borne Catalyst – a fuel borne nanocatalyst for diesel engines, which reduces fuel consumption with savings of 5-10% and reduces particulate emissions by up to 15%. The product has already been adopted by Stagecoach Group in the UK and is distributed by DMX Technology Corporation to petroleum companies in the Philippines.
In addition, Oxonica is working to generate a range of future product applications. These include additional fuel saving additives, marker technology for the clinical and life science diagnostics markets, further UV protection applications, including tailoring the Optisol™ product in the cosmetics markets, and new products for plastics and coatings, transparent conducting films and security markers.
Lead Researchers: Professor Peter Dobson, Dr Gareth Wakefield
University Department: Materials Science
Date of Disclosure to Isis: 1993
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