Dr hab. Szczepan Zapotoczny, prof. UJ, from the Department of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry. Photograph by Łukasz Wspaniały.

In this year's edition of the Focus' Lenses contest, 15 innovative research projects have been nominated in 3 categories (medicine, technology and computer science). The researchers from the Jagiellonian University team, led by Dr hab. Szczepan Zapotoczny, prof. UJ, are the authors of one of them: environment-friendly antiseptic silver nanoparticles. They may be used in medical equipment.

The nanoparticles (i.e. particles the size of one millionth of a millimetre) are encapsulated in microparticles, which are neutral to man and environment. They are "imprisoned" and cannot be released into the environment in large amounts – the process is slow and controlled.

The winners will be decided by an Internet poll. You can vote up until 28 February 2015 at soczewki.focus.pl.