A challenge in nanomedicine is eliminating residues of toxic solvents such as dimethylformamide in products, while finding products that are simple and efficient to manufacture. NCA-derived polypeptides may self-assemble in aqueous solutions, allowing for versatile nanomaterials applications and improving application in vivo by avoiding the need to use toxic solvents and nanoprecipitation compared to their use in methods employing separate polymerization and precipitation steps.[16][17] The one-step process demonstrates an increased rate of reaction with a decreased sensitivity to external conditions such as humidity. In 2019, researchers found that biodegradable nanoparticles may be created with the use of NCA-induced self assembly without the restriction of oxygen-free conditions.[17]