About us
Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Delox is built on years of cutting-edge research in chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science.
Our journey began when Professors João Silva and Fernando Antunes explored the potential of nanoporous materials to control hydrogen peroxide release. What started as scientific curiosity soon evolved into a mission to transform bio-decontamination. With the addition of Fadhil Musa, the team refined DeloxHP – our proprietary dry hydrogen peroxide formulation – leading to the official launch of Delox.
Today, Delox is dedicated to solving critical challenges in antimicrobial resistance, hospital-acquired infections, and microbial contamination. By combining scientific excellence with an entrepreneurial mindset, “we strive to deliver high-performance bio-decontamination for everyone, everywhere.”
OUR STORY
In the early 2010s, Fernando Antunes, Professor of Biochemistry, listened to a lecture held by João Silva, Professor of Chemistry, in an intra-department seminar at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon. João was explaining his work with porous materials that deliver nitric oxide and its potential applications in Health, which triggered Fernando’s interest in the possibility of using the same materials, but to deliver hydrogen peroxide, a similar sized molecule. At the end of the talk, Fernando asked João if this could be used with hydrogen peroxide, despite it being a liquid at room temperature, not a gas, to which João replied:
“All liquids have vapor pressure”.
This simple non-obvious answer initiated a more than scientific relationship,
since they agreed from the beginning that their work would be the basis of a future company.
This represented some risks to two top researchers, since the necessary consequences were neither scientific publications could be submitted nor even posters or presentations could be held. Possibilities for funding were almost non-existent for technology transfer and this work remained a side project for many years to come.
João Silva’s work was focused on nanoporous materials (sometimes called nanocarriers), which can be used to deliver gaseous molecules with therapeutic interest, while Fernando Antunes’ central work was in hydrogen peroxide biology.
The combined expertise resulted in a research project focused initially on developing materials that would entrap hydrogen peroxide and then tailor them to control the hydrogen peroxide release rate, so that therapeutic doses could be achieved. The foreseen applications for this technology were wound healing and diabetes. However, several events shifted the project towards bio-decontamination – the current Delox project.
In 2015, Fadhil Musa joined the team as a biochemistry master student, having conducted his thesis under Fernando and João’s supervision, in this exact topic. In the following year, Fernando and Fadhil participated in COHiTEC, an intensive program whose goal is to accelerate technology projects and that initiated a chain of events that culminated in the project’s pivot from diabetes and wound healing to bio-decontamination.
First, an experimental finding in which the DeloxHP yield was considerably higher than the initial assessments demonstrated potential for applications in which a high amount of hydrogen peroxide was required.
Second, the team realized that DeloxHP technology enabled easy vaporization of hydrogen peroxide (in opposition to a release in aqueous solution, necessary in therapies). Meanwhile, advice from COHiTEC mentors, the better technology-market fit and the much higher funding requirement for the pursuance of therapies, directed the project to bio-decontamination.
All of this was coupled to the identification of multiple problems that bio-decontamination had been trying to solve: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) and microbial contamination in general. Delox technology DeloxHP (initially dryVHP, coined to represent the solid formulation against liquid solutions) had several technological advantages over current solutions, holding the potential to solve current market’s problems, the decisive point for the team to completely pivot the project.
Thus, by the end of 2016, the bio-decontamination project was born and named Delox, through the agglutination of “delivery” and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), reflecting Delox’s technology capacity of releasing hydrogen peroxide (a ROS) vapor – Delox.
WHO MAKES IT POSSIBLE
Fadhil Musa
CEO
Fadhil Musa
CEO
Com um mestrado em Bioquímica pela Universidade de Lisboa, Fadhil iniciou o seu percurso na Delox como mestrando, trabalhando com a tecnologia DeloxHP. Em 2021, Fadhil concluiu também um curso de pós-graduação em Gestão Aplicada para PME, melhorando as suas capacidades de liderança e de negócio. Clique para ver o perfil do LinkedIn.
Fernando Antunes
CTO
Fernando Antunes
CTO
Professor Catedrático da Universidade de Lisboa, Fernando é doutorado em Bioquímica. Com 20 anos de investigação sobre o peróxido de hidrogénio, publicou 70 artigos influentes e obteve mais de 5.000 citações. Clique para ver o LinkedIn.
João Pires da Silva
CSO
João Pires da Silva
CSO
Professor de Química na Universidade de Lisboa, doutorado em Química, especializado em físico-química e materiais. Tem 25 anos de experiência em investigação, mais de 170 publicações e 11 patentes. Clique para ver o perfil do LinkedIn.
Michael Geanous
Presidente não executivo
Michael Geanous
Presidente não executivo
Com um MBA e uma licenciatura em Engenharia pela Penn State University, Michael é consultor internacional e ex-engenheiro-chefe da Steris. Possui uma vasta experiência em indústrias reguladas, com foco no desenvolvimento global de produtos. Clique para ver o perfil do LinkedIn.
Margarida Beiral
Coordenador de I&D e Assuntos Regulamentares
Margarida Beiral
Coordenador de I&D e Assuntos Regulamentares
Margarida Beiral é mestre em Engenharia Biológica pelo Instituto Superior Técnico e concluiu a sua dissertação na Universidade de Amesterdão com a Avantium. É especialista em química e ciência dos materiais. Clique para ver o perfil do LinkedIn.
Jorge João
Pesquisador
Jorge João
Pesquisador
Com mestrado em Biotecnologia pelo Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) – Universidade de Lisboa, Jorge João é doutorando em Biotecnologia e Biociências no IST – Universidade de Lisboa. É especializado em bioengenharia, com experiência em investigação em microbiologia e biologia molecular. Clique para ver o LinkedIn.
Patrícia Mendes
Engenheiro Mecânico
Patrícia Mendes
Engenheiro Mecânico
Recém-licenciada em Engenharia Mecânica pela Escola Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), Patrícia é proactiva, procura soluções inovadoras e tem uma grande vontade de aprender. Clique para ver o perfil do LinkedIn.
Teresa Vargas
Assistente Administrativo
Teresa Vargas
Assistente Administrativo
Com licenciatura em Negócios Internacionais e especialização em Recursos Humanos pela Universidade do Minho, traz consigo experiência prática em atendimento ao cliente, vendas, recrutamento e apoio administrativo, combinando uma mentalidade proativa na resolução de problemas com uma profunda paixão pelas pessoas, gestão e empreendedorismo. Clique para ver o LinkedIn.
Mariana Melo
Marketing e Desenvolvimento de Negócio
Mariana Melo
Marketing e Desenvolvimento de Negócio
Com um mestrado em Marketing pela ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics & Management e experiência em marketing B2B e desenvolvimento de negócio, a Mariana é apaixonada por criar campanhas impactantes que impulsionam o crescimento e o engagement, bem como por estabelecer ligações significativas com os clientes. Clique para ver o LinkedIn
Paulo Quental
Engenheiro Mecânico
Paulo Quental
Engenheiro Mecânico
Com um mestrado em Engenharia Mecânica pelo IST e uma formação diversificada que abrange a investigação em fusão nuclear e a gestão de projetos industriais.
Daniela Canhão
Investigador Júnior
Daniela Canhão
Investigador Júnior
Com um mestrado em Microbiologia pelo Instituto Superior Técnico da Universidade de Lisboa e formação em Bioquímica, Daniela gosta de compreender problemas complexos, procura soluções práticas e é movida por uma constante vontade de aprender e evoluir enquanto investigadora júnior. Clique para ver o LinkedIn.
Fadhil Musa
CEO
Fadhil Musa
CEO
With an MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Lisbon, Fadhil started with Delox as a Master’s student working on DeloxHP technology. Fadhil also completed a post-graduate course in Applied Management for SMEs in 2021, enhancing his leadership and business skills. Click to view LinkedIn.
Fernando Antunes
CTO
Fernando Antunes
CTO
Full Professor at the University of Lisbon, Fernando has a PhD in Biochemistry. With 20 years of research on hydrogen peroxide, he has published 70 influential articles and earned over 5,000 citations. Click to view LinkedIn.
João Pires da Silva
CSO
João Pires da Silva
CSO
Chemistry Professor at the University of Lisbon with a PhD in Chemistry, specializes in physical chemistry and materials. He has 25 years of research experience, 170+ publications, and 11 patents. Click to view LinkedIn.
Michael Geanous
Non-Executive Chairman
Michael Geanous
Non-Executive Chairman
With an MBA and Engineering Degree from Penn State University, Michael is an international consultant and former Chief Engineer at Steris. He has extensive experience in regulated industries, focusing on global product development. Click to view LinkedIn.
