As part of a research project of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), commissioned by the UBA and executed by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, a comprehensive overview of the wide range of nanocarriers in use and under development was compiled. Nanocarriers are carrier systems in the nanometer range that protect active ingredients, transport them in a targeted manner and release them at an intended site of action. Nanocarriers are mainly used in medicine, but also in agriculture, cosmetics, food and food supplements, or are being researched for this purpose. For example, they can transport chemotherapeutic agents directly to the tumor and only release them there, so that an effective effect can be achieved while reducing undesirable side effects. In agriculture, nanocarriers could be used to protect pesticides from premature degradation or drift until they are released at the site of action, which could lead to more effective use and thus a possible reduction in the amount used.

Nanocarriers therefore represent promising advanced materials with benefits for humans and the environment. It is becoming clear that this "packaging" can change the behavior and effect of the active ingredients. The new challenges this poses for the health and environmental assessment of active substances are currently being discussed and researched.

This report serves as a basis for identifying, selecting or prioritizing nanocarriers to answer these and other research questions.