NovaSterilis receives patent for vaccine creation using supercritical carbon dioxide

NovaSterilis Inc., a developer of supercritical carbon dioxide technology for biomedical applications, announces the issue of US Patent 7,560,113 for creation and production of whole cell vaccines with supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO₂)*.

Utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide technology the NovaSterilis research and development team performed a number of experiments investigating immune response to a SCCO₂ inactivated bacterial pathogen. Data accumulated from the research indicated that the technology was capable of producing a fast and effective vaccine in response to bacterial pathogens.

The NovaSterilis technology completely inactivated the pathogen, caused no adverse reactive response, and the test subject demonstrated accumulated antibodies (immune recognition) upon a challenge. A key component of this process is the speed in which the technology inactivated the pathogen without destruction of the structures vital to immune response.

*Supercritical C0₂

SCCO₂ refers to carbon dioxide that is in a fluid state when both its temperature and pressure are equal to or greater than the critical point. Carbon dioxide usually behaves as a gas under standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP), or as a solid when frozen (dry ice). When the temperature and pressure are increased from STP to be at or above the critical point (31.1°C, 74 atm) of carbon dioxide, it develops properties midway between a gas and a liquid. At this point, it is referred to as a supercritical fluid. SCCO₂ has become a popular commercial and industrial solvent because of its low toxicity and low environmental impact.