New perspectives on green and sustainable wet cleaning systems for art conservation
Abstract
The field of cultural heritage conservation science has seen significant advancements over recent decades, particularly through the application of soft matter and colloid science. Gels, nanostructured fluids, nanoparticles, and other advanced functional materials have been developed to address challenges in cleaning, consolidation, and protection of art. More recently, the focus has shifted toward "green" materials and sustainable practices, aligning with broader trends in science and technology. This emphasis on sustainability has revealed the immense potential for cross-disciplinary exchange between conservation science and fields like drug delivery, the food industry, tissue engineering, and more. A clear example of this synergy is seen in the cleaning of artworks, where bio-derived surfactants and biomaterials are increasingly incorporated into microemulsions and gels. These innovations not only enhance cleaning efficacy but also align conservation practices with sustainable principles, drawing parallels to research in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and detergents. The examples and materials discussed in this contribution illustrate how advancements in art conservation science can foster mutual technological transfer with other industries. By leveraging the central role of soft matter and colloids, these collaborations produce sustainable solutions that can address critical societal, environmental, and economic challenges.
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BibTeX
@article{chelazzi2026perspectives,
title = {{New perspectives on green and sustainable wet cleaning systems for art conservation}},
author = {David Chelazzi and Romain Bordes and Andrea Casini and Rosangela Mastrangelo and Krister Holmberg and Piero Baglioni},
journal = {Soft Matter},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1039/d5sm00017c},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05794549v1},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - New perspectives on green and sustainable wet cleaning systems for art conservation
AU - David Chelazzi
AU - Romain Bordes
AU - Andrea Casini
AU - Rosangela Mastrangelo
AU - Krister Holmberg
AU - Piero Baglioni
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Soft Matter
DO - 10.1039/d5sm00017c
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05794549v1
AB - The field of cultural heritage conservation science has seen significant advancements over recent decades, particularly through the application of soft matter and colloid science. Gels, nanostructured fluids, nanoparticles, and other advanced functional materials have been developed to address challenges in cleaning, consolidation, and protection of art. More recently, the focus has shifted toward "green" materials and sustainable practices, aligning with broader trends in science and technology. This emphasis on sustainability has revealed the immense potential for cross-disciplinary exchange between conservation science and fields like drug delivery, the food industry, tissue engineering, and more. A clear example of this synergy is seen in the cleaning of artworks, where bio-derived surfactants and biomaterials are increasingly incorporated into microemulsions and gels. These innovations not only enhance cleaning efficacy but also align conservation practices with sustainable principles, drawing parallels to research in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and detergents. The examples and materials discussed in this contribution illustrate how advancements in art conservation science can foster mutual technological transfer with other industries. By leveraging the central role of soft matter and colloids, these collaborations produce sustainable solutions that can address critical societal, environmental, and economic challenges.
SN - 1744-683X
SN - 1744-6848
ER -