Dr Dan Baiocco

PhD, FHEA

  • Lecturer in Chemical Engineering
Publications
Google Scholar
Daniele Baiocco

Background:

Dr Dan Baiocco has been a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at Loughborough University since April 2026. He also holds an honorary appointment as Assistant Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. Prior to this, he spent almost nine years at Birmingham, where he completed his PhD in 2022 and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral research fellow until 2026. He is a chemical engineer by training, with his academic foundations established in Italy.

During his doctoral and postdoctoral work at Birmingham, he was part of research groups led by Prof Zhibing Zhang and later the Healthcare Technologies Institute with Prof Liam Grover. His research focuses on the design and development of micro- and nano-encapsulated systems, with a particular focus on bio-inspired, microplastic-free delivery platforms derived from natural and sustainable materials. His work aims to advance versatile, patient-friendly microdelivery systems for healthcare applications, including haemostasis and dermatological treatments.

He has contributed to a range of collaborative projects funded by EPSRC, Innovate UK, and industrial partners, working with institutions including the University of Cambridge, Leeds, and Bristol in the UK, and companies such as Procter & Gamble, Bionema, and Lambson.

Alongside his research, he has co-supervised PhD students, contributed to undergraduate teaching in process formulation, product design, and supported broader departmental initiatives, including inclusive mentoring activities for early-career researchers.

Qualifications:

  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy UK (FHEA)
  • Honorary Assistant Professor, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
  • MSc, Chemical Engineering, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
  • BSc, Chemical Engineering, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

 

Outline of main research interests:

  • Associate Guest Editor of Microsystems & Nanoengineering, special issue “Micro-Nanoencapsulated Delivery Technologies: Emerging Applications in Biomedicine and Consumer Goods”, https://www.nature.com/collections/jdecaidcbe 

Grants and contracts:

  • Baiocco D., ‘Tackling Microplastic Pollution: Safeguarding our Environment and Food Chains’, Horizon Europe Pump Priming Collaboration between UK and EU Partners, the British Academy, March 2024.

Current teaching responsibilities:

  • Engineering Principles and Design  (CGA016) – Sustainability
  • Process Safety and Control (CGB031) – Quantitative risk assessment, Chemical Plant Siting and Layout, Plant Safety Case, Legislation

Recent publications:

    1. Baiocco D, Lobel BT, Al-Sharabi M, Cayre OJ, Routh AF, Zhang Z., Organic-inorganic Multi-layer Microcarriers with Superior Mechanical Properties for Potential Active Delivery in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, ACS Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2025, 64, 9, 4917–4931 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.4c04503
    2. Baiocco D, Al-Sharabi M, Lobel BT, Cayre OJ, Routh AF, Zhang Z. Eco-Friendly Fungal Chitosan-Silica Dual-Shell Microcapsules with Tailored Mechanical and Barrier Properties for Potential Consumer Product Applications. ACS Omega 2024. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c02287
    3. Baiocco D, Lobel BT, Al-Sharabi M, Cayre OJ, Routh AF, Zhang Z. Environmentally friendly calcium carbonate-polydopamine microcapsules with superior mechanical, barrier, and adhesive properties. Sustainable Materials and Technologies 2024, 41:e01001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2024.e01001
    4. Al-Sharabi M, Baiocco D, Lobel BT, Cayre OJ, Zhang Z, Routh AF. Magnetic zinc oxide/silica microbeads for the photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 2024, 695:134169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.134169
    5. Lobel BT, Baiocco D, Al-Sharabi M, Routh AF, Cayre OJ, Zhang Z. Current Challenges in Microcapsule Designs and Microencapsulation Processes: A Review. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2024, 16(31): p. 40326-55, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c02462
    6. Guan Z, Baiocco D, Barros A., Zhang Z. Microscale Delivery Systems for Hydrophilic Active Ingredients in Functional Consumer Goods. WIREs: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/wnan.70009
    7. Lobel BT, Baiocco D, Al-Sharabi M, Routh AF, Zhang Z, Cayre OJ. Non-spherical particle stabilised emulsions formed through destabilisation and arrested coalescence. ACS Langmuir, 2025, 41(1): p. 550-62, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c03812
    8. Al-Sharabi M, Lobel BT, Baiocco D, Cayre OJ, Zhang Z, Routh AF, Multicore Silica Microcapsules Containing α-Tocopherol for Potential Consumer, Materials Advances, 2025, 6, 1468-1477, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00981A
    9. Parvate S, Vladisavljević GT, Leister N, Spyrou A, Bolognesi G, Baiocco D, Zhang Z, Chattopadhyay S. Lego-Inspired Glass Capillary Microfluidic Device: A Technique for Bespoke Microencapsulation of Phase Change Materials. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2023, 15:17195-17210. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c00281
    10. Baiocco D, Zhang Z, He Y, Zhang Z. Relationship between the Young's Moduli of Whole Microcapsules and Their Shell Material Established by Micromanipulation Measurements Based on Diametric Compression between Two Parallel Surfaces and Numerical Modelling. Micromachines 2023, 14:123. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14010123
    11. Baiocco D, Zhang Z. Microplastic-Free Microcapsules to Encapsulate Health-Promoting Limonene Oil. Molecules 2022, 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217215
    12. Baiocco D, Preece JA, Zhang Z. Encapsulation of Hexylsalicylate in an Animal-Free Chitosan-Gum Arabic Shell by Complex Coacervation. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 2021:126861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.126861
    13. Baiocco D, Preece JA, Zhang Z. Microcapsules with a Fungal Chitosan-gum Arabic-maltodextrin Shell to Encapsulate Health-Beneficial Peppermint Oil. Food Hydrocolloids for Health 2021:100016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fhfh.2021.100016
    14. Zhang Y, Mustapha AN, Zhang X, Baiocco D, Wellio G, Davies T, Zhang Z, Li Y. Improved volatile cargo retention and mechanical properties of capsules via sediment-free in situ polymerization with cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) as an emulsifier. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2020, 568:155-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.01.115
    15. Zhang Y, Baiocco D, Mustapha AN, Zhang X, Yu Q, Wellio G, Zhang Z, Li Y. Hydrocolloids: Nova materials assisting encapsulation of volatile phase change materials for cryogenic energy transport and storage. Chemical Engineering Journal 2020, 382:123028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.1230281
    16. Baiocco D, Zhang Z, He Y, Zhang Z. Relationship between the Young's Moduli of Whole Microcapsules and Their Shell Material Established by Micromanipulation Measurements Based on Diametric Compression between Two Parallel Surfaces and Numerical Modelling. Micromachines 2023, 14:123. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14010123
    17. Baiocco D, Zhang Z. Microplastic-Free Microcapsules to Encapsulate Health-Promoting Limonene Oil. Molecules 2022, 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217215
    18. Baiocco D, Preece JA, Zhang Z. Encapsulation of Hexylsalicylate in an Animal-Free Chitosan-Gum Arabic Shell by Complex Coacervation. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects 2021:126861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.126861
    19. Baiocco D, Preece JA, Zhang Z. Microcapsules with a Fungal Chitosan-gum Arabic-maltodextrin Shell to Encapsulate Health-Beneficial Peppermint Oil. Food Hydrocolloids for Health 2021:100016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fhfh.2021.100016
    20. Zhang Y, Mustapha AN, Zhang X, Baiocco D, Wellio G, Davies T, Zhang Z, Li Y. Improved volatile cargo retention and mechanical properties of capsules via sediment-free in situ polymerization with cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) as an emulsifier. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 2020, 568:155-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2020.01.115
    21. Zhang Y, Baiocco D, Mustapha AN, Zhang X, Yu Q, Wellio G, Zhang Z, Li Y. Hydrocolloids: Nova materials assisting encapsulation of volatile phase change materials for cryogenic energy transport and storage. Chemical Engineering Journal 2020, 382:123028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.123028

    External role and appointments:

    • Honorary Assistant Professor, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK