The researchers used modified microparticles made from cellulose nanofibrils, the material that forms tough fibres in wood and plants. In this process, the cellulose nanofibrils are modified to form a micro-sized network structure that can act as a molecular net that traps bacteria and prevents them from growing. What’s more, they have also created the product in a formulation that can easily be applied to surfaces, meaning you can apply these antimicrobial properties to textiles, food packaging and filters, to name a few examples.  As such they can serve as an alternative to nanobiocides such as metal and other nanoparticles that are toxic for humans and the environment. These microparticles could also be used to scavenge other harmful contaminants found in industrial wastewater or meteoric waters, such as pesticides, in/organic anions (fluorides, chlorides, nitrite, etc.) and molecules (e.g. pharmaceuticals).