# Research and Industry for Human Health Enabled by Detergent Chemistry

## TL;DR

This paper highlights how detergent chemistry contributes to human health through innovations in synthesis, characterization, and application.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a special collection offering a comprehensive overview of recent advances in detergent chemistry.

## Key findings

- Detergent chemistry is pivotal in addressing urgent questions in chemical science.
- Detergent chemists work interdisciplinary to connect molecular structures with application-relevant properties.
- The field provides solutions for well-being, hygiene, and pharmaceutical development.

## Abstract

Research and applications relevant to human health are enabled by detergent chemistry. A multifaceted overview of this field is yet missing. To close this gap, this topical collection provides an overview of recent advances in detergent chemistry covering progress in synthesis, supramolecular characterization, and application. Our collection shows that detergent chemists operate usually interdisciplinary. Connecting molecular structures of detergents with properties relevant to applications is at the center of scientific exploitation. Detergent chemists deliver solutions to research and industry that aim at securing well‐being, hygiene, and new pharmaceuticals.

Detergent chemistry addresses urgent questions in chemical science and is pivotal to progress for human health. Guest Editor Dr. Leonhard H. Urner introduces the ChemPlusChem Special Collection “Detergent Chemistry” and provides an overview about its contents.© 2026 WILEY‐VCH GmbH