Prof. Dr. Christian Adlhart

Work at ZHAW

Position

Head of Functional Materials and Nanotechnology

Network

Membership of networks

• COST Action MP1206 Electrospinning
• Swiss Chemical Society
• COST Action CA15114 Anti-MIcrobial Coating Innovations (AMiCI)

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4081-221X

Projects

• Towards mechanically biocompatible implant materials for pelvic floor repair / Team member / ongoing
• Development of a depth filter for PFAS removal / Project leader / completed
• Targeted Photodynamic Disinfection Therapy (tPDT) for Dental Care Through Local Activation of a Curcumin-PVP Complex / Project leader / completed
• Active modified surfaces for contained drug release / Deputy project leader / completed
• Point-of-need breath aerosol collector for non-invasive Tuberculosis diagnosis / Project leader / completed
• Paper based SERS biochip for point of care diagnostics / Project leader / completed
• Innovative biomaterials technology to develop cultivated meat / Project leader / completed
• Infused Drinking Water from Dropz / Team member / completed
• Protective coatings for the extension of the shelf life of foods / Team member / completed
• Bio-based functional food packaging / Project leader / completed
• Digital simulation for the tailored production of 3D nanofiber filters and their integration in a full protective suit for pandemic cases / Project leader / completed
• Integrated Bio-based Materials Value Chains / Co-project leader / completed
• isi - BioCat - In Situ Immobilized Biocatalysts / Deputy project leader / completed
• Nanofiber-based aerogels for a filtration system in biotechnological Downstream processes / Project leader / completed
• Intensified by Design® for the intensification of processes involving solids handling / Project leader / completed
• Secure Management Platform for Shared Process Resources / Project leader / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Risch, P. et al. (2025) 'AveloMask, a novel breath aerosol collection kit for airborne Mycobacterium tuberculosis : a proof-of-principle assessment', Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 63(9), pp. e00546–25. doi: 10.1128/jcm.00546-25.
• Von Philipsborn, F. A. and Adlhart, C. (2025) 'Towards biocompatible cellulose nanofiber sponges with tailored pore geometries', CHIMIA, 79(4), pp. 232–236. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2025.232.
• Mol, G., Fialová, C. and Adlhart, C. (2024) 'Rapid preparation of electrospun nanofibre sponges through supercritical CO2 drying', Materials Advances, 5(9), pp. 3929–3939. doi: 10.1039/D3MA00781B.
• Rimann, M. et al. (2022) 'Acrylonitrile and pullulan based nanofiber mats as easily accessible scaffolds for 3D skin cell models containing primary cells', Cells, 11(3), p. 445. doi: 10.3390/cells11030445.
• Risch, P. and Adlhart, C. (2022) 'The separation power of highly porous 3D nanofiber sponges', Chimia, 76(4), pp. 354–360. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2022.354.
• Mousavi, S. et al. (2022) 'Clarification of yeast cell suspensions by a highly porous polyamide nanofiber sponge', Separation and Purification Technology, 284(120273). doi: 10.1016/j.seppur.2021.120273.
• Merk, M., Chirikian, O. and Adlhart, C. (2021) '3D PCL/gelatin/genipin nanofiber sponge as scaffold for regenerative medicine', Materials, 14(8), p. 2006. doi: 10.3390/ma14082006.
• Eibl, D. et al. (2021) 'Keeping SARS-CoV-2 out : vaccines, filters, and self-disinfecting textiles', Chimia, 75(3), pp. 215–218. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2021.215.
• Risch, P. and Adlhart, C. (2021) 'A chitosan nanofiber sponge for oyster-inspired filtration of microplastics', ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 3(9), pp. 4685–4694. doi: 10.1021/acsapm.1c00799.
• Kaegi, M. et al. (2020) 'A novel microfiber wipe for delivery of active substances to human skin : clinical proof of concept', Polymers, 12(11), p. 2715. doi: 10.3390/polym12112715.
• Weidenbacher, L. et al. (2019) 'In vitro endothelialization of surface-integrated nanofiber networks for stretchable blood interfaces', ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. doi: 10.1021/acsami.8b18121.
• Brodard, P. et al. (2019) 'Materials science at Swiss universities of applied sciences', Chimia, 73(7-8), pp. 645–655. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2019.645.
• Mousavi, S. et al. (2019) 'Surface enriched nanofiber mats for efficient adsorption of Cr(VI) inspired by nature', Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 7(1). doi: 10.1016/j.jece.2018.102817.
• Mousavi, S. et al. (2019) 'Nanofiber immobilized CeO2/dendrimer nanoparticles : an efficient photocatalyst in the visible and the UV', Applied Surface Science. doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.02.119.
• Zhao, S. et al. (2018) 'Merging flexibility with superinsulation : machinable, nanofibrous pullulan-silica aerogel composites', Materials & Design, 160, pp. 294–302. doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2018.09.010.
• Mousavi, S. et al. (2018) 'Efficient dye adsorption by highly porous nanofiber aerogels', Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 547, pp. 117–125. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2018.03.052.
• Deuber, F. et al. (2018) 'Exploration of ultralight nanofiber aerogels as particle filters : capacity and efficiency', ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 10(10), pp. 9069–9076. doi: 10.1021/acsami.8b00455.
• Zhai, L. et al. (2018) 'Prediction of steam burns severity using raman spectroscopy on ex vivo porcine skin', Scientific Reports, 8(6946). doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24647-x.
• Adlhart, C. et al. (2018) 'Surface modifications for antimicrobial effects in the healthcare setting : a critical overview', Journal of Hospital Infection. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.01.018.
• Burger, T. et al. (2017) 'Nanofiber-based aerogels', Chimia, 71(5), p. 311. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2017.311.
• Dąbrowska, A. K. et al. (2017) 'The relationship between skin function, barrier properties, and body-dependent factors', Skin Research and Technology, 24(2), pp. 165–174. doi: 10.1111/srt.12424.
• Dunne, C. P. et al. (2017) 'Anti-microbial coating innovations to prevent infectious diseases (AMiCI) : cost action ca15114', Bioengineered, 8(6), pp. 679–685. doi: 10.1080/21655979.2017.1323593.
• Deuber, F. and Adlhart, C. (2017) 'From short electrospun nanofibers to ultralight aerogels with tunable pore structure', Chimia, 71(4), pp. 236–240. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2017.236.
• Deuber, F. et al. (2017) 'Amphiphilic nanofiber based aerogels from electrospun biopolymers for selective liquid absorption', Advanced Materials Interfaces, 4(12), p. 1700065. doi: 10.1002/admi.201700065.
• Hirsch, C. et al. (2017) 'Multiparameter toxicity assessment of novel DOPO-derived organophosphorus flame retardants', Archives of Toxicology, 91(1), pp. 407–425. doi: 10.1007/s00204-016-1680-4.
• Dabrowska, A. K. et al. (2016) 'In vivo confirmation of hydration-induced changes in human-skin thickness, roughness and interaction with the environment', Biointerphases, 11(3). doi: 10.1116/1.4962547.
• Tzirakis, M. D. et al. (2015) 'Surfactant-free synthesis of sub-100 nm poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) nanoparticles by one-step ultrasonic assisted emulsification/polymerization', RSC Advances, 2015(125), pp. 103218–103228. doi: 10.1039/C5RA23840D.
• Fleischli, F., Morf, F. and Adlhart, C. (2015) 'Skin concentrations of topically applied substances in reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) compared with human skin using in vivo confocal Raman microscopy', Chimia, 69(3), pp. 147–151. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2015.147.
• Bendixen, N. et al. (2014) 'Membrane-particle interactions in an asymmetric flow field flow fractionation channel studied with titanium dioxide nanoparticles', Journal of Chromatography A, 1334, pp. 92–100. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2014.01.066.
• Brodard, P. et al. (2014) 'Surface chemistry at Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences', Chimia, 68(7-8), pp. 560–562. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2014.560.
• Fleischli, F., Mathes, S. and Adlhart, C. (2013) 'Label free non-invasive imaging of topically applied actives in reconstructed human epidermis by confocal Raman spectroscopy', Vibrational Spectroscopy, 68(1), pp. 29–33. doi: 10.1016/j.vibspec.2013.05.003.
• Ulrich, A. et al. (2012) 'Critical aspects of sample handling for direct nanoparticle analysis and analytical challenges using asymmetric field flow fractionation in a multi-detector approach', Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 27(7), pp. 1120–1130. doi: 10.1039/C2JA30024A.
• Badertscher, R. et al. (2012) 'Grafting of α-tocopherol upon γ-irradiation in UHMWPE probed by model hydrocarbons', Polymer Degradation and Stability, 97(11), pp. 2255–2261. doi: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2012.07.040.
• Adlhart, C. and Baschong, W. (2011) 'Surface distribution and depths profiling of particulate organic UV absorbers by Raman imaging and tape stripping', International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 33(6), pp. 527–534. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2494.2011.00666.x.
• Büttiker, R. et al. (2011) 'Membranes for specific adsorption : immobilizing molecularly imprinted polymer microspheres using electrospun nanofibers', Chimia, 65(3), pp. 182–186. doi: 10.2533/chimia.2011.182.
• Adlhart, C. and Uggerud, E. (2007) 'Mechanisms for the dehydrogenation of alkanes on platinum : insights gained from the reactivity of gaseous cluster cations, Pt(n)+, n = 1-21', Chemistry - A European Journal, 13(24), pp. 6883–6890. doi: 10.1002/chem.200700501.
• Adlhart, C. and Uggerud, E. (2006) 'Reaction dynamics simulations of the identity SN2 reaction H2O + HOOH2+ -> H2OOH+ + H2O : requirements for reaction and competition with proton transfer', Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2006(9), pp. 1066–1071. doi: 10.1039/B516658F.
• Adlhart, C. and Uggerud, E. (2006) 'C-H activation in reactions of protonated hydrogen peroxide with propane', International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 254(3), pp. 189–196. doi: 10.1016/j.ijms.2006.05.018.
• Adlhart, C. and Uggerud, E. (2006) 'Reactions of platinum clusters Ptn±, n = 1-21, with CH4 : to react or not to react', Chemical Communications, 2006(24), pp. 2581–2582. doi: 10.1039/B604207D.
• Frech Nabold, C. M. et al. (2006) 'Unprecedented ROMP activity of low-valent rhenium-nitrosyl complexes : mechanistic evaluation of an electrophilic olefin metathesis system', Chemistry - A European Journal, 12(12), pp. 3325–3338. doi: 10.1002/chem.200501025.
• Adlhart, C. and Uggerud, E. (2006) 'Mechanisms of catalytic dehydrogenation of alkanes by rhodium clusters Rhn+ probed by isotope labelling', International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 249-250, pp. 191–198. doi: 10.1016/j.ijms.2005.12.032.
• Adlhart, C., Sekiguchi, O. and Uggerud, E. (2005) 'On the gas-phase reactivity of complexed OH+ with halogenated alkanes', Chemistry - A European Journal, 11(1), pp. 152–159. doi: 10.1002/chem.200400699.
• Adlhart, C. and Uggerud, E. (2005) 'C-H activation of alkanes on Rh+n (n=1-30) clusters : size effects on dehydrogenation', The Journal of Chemical Physics, 123(21), p. 214709. doi: 10.1063/1.2131066.
• Al-Khalili, A. et al. (2004) 'Dissociative recombination cross section and branching ratios of protonated dimethyl disulfide and N-methylacetamide', The Journal of Chemical Physics, 121(12), pp. 5700–5708. doi: 10.1063/1.1782772.
• Adlhart, C. and Chen, P. (2004) 'Mechanism and activity of ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts : the role of ligands and substrates from a theoretical perspective', Journal of the American Chemical Society, 126(11), pp. 3496–3510. doi: 10.1021/ja0305757.
• Adlhart, C. and Chen, P. (2003) 'Comparing intrinsic reactivities of the first- and second-generation ruthenium metathesis catalysts in the gas phase', Helvetica Chimica Acta, 86(4), pp. 941–949. doi: 10.1002/hlca.200390112.
• Adlhart, C. and Chen, P. (2002) 'Ligand rotation distinguishes first- and second-generation ruthenium metathesis catalysts', Angewandte Chemie: International Edition, 41(23), pp. 4484–4487. doi: 10.1002/1521-3773(20021202)41:23<4484::AID-ANIE4484>3.0.CO;2-Q.
• Volland, M. A. O. et al. (2001) 'Catalyst screening by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry : Hofmann carbenes for olefin metathesis', Chemistry - A European Journal, 7(21), pp. 4621–4632. doi: 10.1002/1521-3765(20011105)7:21<4621::AID-CHEM4621>3.0.CO;2-C.
• Adlhart, C. et al. (2000) 'Mechanistic studies of olefin metathesis by ruthenium carbene complexes using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry', Journal of the American Chemical Society, 122(34), pp. 8204–8214.
• Hinderling, C., Adlhart, C. and Chen, P. (2000) 'Mechanism-based high-throughput screening of catalysts', Chimia, 54(4), p. 232.
• Adlhart, C. et al. (2000) 'Comparing Grubbs-, Werner-, and Hofmann-type (carbene)ruthenium complexes : the key role of pre-equilibria for olefin metathesis', Helvetica Chimica Acta, 83(12), pp. 3306–3311. doi: 10.1002/1522-2675(20001220)83:12<3306::AID-HLCA3306>3.0.CO;2-7.
• Adlhart, C. and Chen, P. (2000) 'Fishing for catalysts : mechanism-based probes for active species in solution', Helvetica Chimica Acta, 83(9), pp. 2192–2196. doi: 10.1002/1522-2675(20000906)83:9<2192::AID-HLCA2192>3.0.CO;2-G.
• Hinderling, C., Adlhart, C. and Chen, P. (1998) 'Olefin metathesis of a ruthenium carbene complex by electrospray ionization in the gas phase', Angewandte Chemie: International Edition, 37(19), pp. 2685–2689. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-3773(19981016)37:19<2685::AID-ANIE2685>3.0.CO;2-M.

Books, peer-reviewed

Adlhart, C. (2003) Intrinsic reactivity of ruthenium carbenes : a combined gas phase and computational study. Doctoral dissertation. ETH Zürich. doi: 10.3929/ethz-a-004567608.

Book chapters, peer-reviewed

• Delfosse, D., Lerf, R. and Adlhart, C. (2014) 'What happens to the vitamin E in a vitamin-stabilised HXLPE?', in Knahr, K. (ed.) Tribology in total hip and knee arthroplasty : potential drawbacks and benefits of commonly used materials. Berlin: Springer, pp. 197–205. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-45266-6_19.
• Adlhart, C. and Chen, P. (2003) 'Intrinsic reactivity of Ruthenium Carbenes', in Grubbs, R. H. (ed.) Handbook of metathesis : catalyst development. Weinheim: Wiley, pp. 132–169. doi: 10.1002/9783527619481.ch10.

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Hofmann, J. et al. (2024) 'Micro and macromechanics of electrospun membranes under uniaxial and biaxial loading conditions', in 29th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics (ESB), Edinburgh, Scotland, 30 June - 3 July 2024.
• Saladin, J. et al. (2022) 'Corn storage protein zein : biopolymer for drug delivery systems', in Tetranationale Tagung Phytotherapie, 36. Schweizerische Jahrestagung Phytotherapie, Universität Zürich, Schweiz, 16.-18. Juni 2022.

Other publications

• Burger, T. and Adlhart, C. (2018) 'Cryo-3D printing of nanofiber aerogels', À Jour: SVC - Chemie, Life Sciences & Biotechnologie, 18(2), pp. 17–19. Available at: https://www.svc.ch/dl/18b8c9e4359474c586ea2d369663a8c3/ajour0218.pdf.
• Deuber, F. and Adlhart, C. (2018) 'Tailoring the microstructure of ultra-light nanofiber aerogels by solid templating and their application as wound dressing materials', À Jour: SVC - Chemie, Life Sciences & Biotechnologie, 18(1), pp. 17–19.
• Deuber, F. et al. (2016) 'Cover picture : tailoring pore structure of ultralight electrospun sponges by solid templating', ChemistrySelect, 1(18), p. 5594. doi: 10.1002/slct.201601454.
• Deuber, F. et al. (2016) 'Tailoring pore structure of ultralight electrospun sponges by solid templating', ChemistrySelect, 1(18), pp. 5595–5598. doi: 10.1002/slct.201601084.
• Adlhart, C. et al. (2015) 'Encapsulation and controlled release of bacteriophages for food protection using electrospun nanofibers', in Proceedings of the NART conference 2015, pp. 49–56.
• Adlhart, C. and Deuber, F. (2015) 'Improved fiber diameter determination of nanofibers through image analysis using a hierarchical scaling approach', in Proceedings of the NART conference 2015, pp. 29–36.
• Adlhart, C. and Federer, L. (2014) 'Welches Gas steckt im Öl? : Integrierte Diagnostik gibt Antwort', Transfer, 2014(1), p. 8. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-2056.
• Adlhart, C. (2014) 'Dünne Fasern - grosse Wirkung : mit Elektrospinning zu neuen Produkten', Textil plus, 2014(5/6), pp. 44–47.
• Huber, P. et al. (2014) 'Coffee based polyphenols with potential in skin care : antioxidant activity and skin penetration assessed by in vivo Raman spectroscopy', Household and Personal Care Today, 9(3), pp. 28–34. Available at: http://www.teknoscienze.com/tks_article/coffee-based-polyphenols-with-potential-in-skin-careantioxidant-activity-and-skin-penetration-assessed-by-in-vivo-raman-spectroscopy/.
• Adlhart, C. (2013) 'Problembasiertes Chemie-Grundlagenpraktikum : verändertes Menschenbild als Ausgangspunkt zur Neugestaltung der Lehre', in Bachmann, H. (ed.) Hochschullehre variantenreich gestalten : Kompetenzorientierte Hochschullehre : Ansätze, Methoden und Beispiele. Bern: hep-Verlag, pp. 160–174.
• Adlhart, C. et al. (2013) 'High gas permeable food contact layer by electrospun nanofibers', in Proceedings of the International Workshop : Development of safe PNFP and development of strategies to identify any critical interaction of PNFP with food.
• Adlhart, C. and Ebert, J. (2012) 'Intelligent nanofibres as basis for new filter materials', in Global guide of the filtration and separation industry : global guide 2012-2014. Rödermark: VDL-Verlag, pp. 181–187.
• Adlhart, C. and Ebert, J. (2012) 'Intelligente Nanofasern als Basis für neue Filtermaterialien', in Global guide of the filtration and separation industry : global guide 2012-2014. Rödermark: VDL-Verlag, pp. 239–245.
• Berke, H. et al. (2005) 'New catalysts for ROMP', Journal of Fudan University, 44(4), p. 625.

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

• Hofmann, J. et al. (2024) 'Large-porous or nano-fibrous? – a mechanical perspective on implant materials for the pelvic floor', in 29th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics (ESB), Edinburgh, Scotland, 30 June - 3 July 2024.
• Adlhart, C. and Yildirim, S. (2013) 'Highly oxygen permeable electrospun webs as functional food contact layer for Pd-based oxygen scavenger films', in International Workshop in Electrospinning Applied to Food Packaging, Valencia, Spain, 2013. CSIC.

Patents and patent applications

• Adlhart, Christian; Schneider, Frank; Hug, Thomas Silvan,

  2019.

  Device for the extraction and analysis of gases.

  Patent number EP2927681 B1

  (2019-02-13)

  .

  Available from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DEP2927681B1

• Chen, Peter; Plattner, Dietmar, A.; Hinderling, Christian; Feichtinger, Derek; Adlhart, Christian,

  2003.

  Catalytically accelerated gaseous phase reactions.

  Patent number EP0970132 B1

  (2003-06-18)

  .

  Available from: https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DEP0970132B1

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