delberg says the system would be better for the environment than standard detergents because it is made of amino acids that microbes can attack and destroy.
The pepfactant is based on a protein that binds to DNA to initiate gene expression. But Middelberg says as only a small part of the original protein has been used, the pepfactant should not affect DNA expression in the environment.
He also says that as long as the pepfactant remained diluted it would remain switched off.
But he says any future product would need to be tested for toxicity and biodegradability.
A pepfactant detergent will cost much more than conventional petrochemical-based detergents, says Middelberg, although the rising cost of oil may change this.
He says pepfactants are most likely to be deployed first in drug delivery.
For example, a pepfactant could be used to help deliver the anticancer drug, Taxol (paclitaxel), with fewer side-effects.
Currently the drug, which is an oily substance, is injected into patients along with petrochemicals to help its delivery via the patient's water-based bloodstream.
"By encapsulating the [drug] in this layer of gel-like collagen you have a bio-compatible encapsulation methods for anticancer agents," says Middelberg.
The research is funded by the Australian Research Council and the researchers have signed a number of commercial agreements with major multinational pharmaceutical and chemical companies.
The work was presented at an American Chemical Society meeting in Boston recently.