Pepfactants - switching for bioindustries

A new process with the potential to revolutionise production methods in the more than $1 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing industry has been developed by AIBN researchers.

This nanotechnology could also transform the cosmetics, food processing, targeted drug delivery and waste water treatment industries.

Originally described in the journal Nature Materials, Pepfactants® was developed by Professor Anton Middelberg and Dr Annette Dexter. Professor Middelberg said it had the potential to be used in a multitude of applications.

“Our process enables the reversible and controllable making and breaking of an emulsion or foam in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner,” he said.

“Pepfactants® allows for the very quick separation of oil and water as well as the reversible reformation of the emulsion. Emulsions, or mixtures of two immiscible liquids like oil and water, are found just about everywhere from mayonnaise to moisturising cream to products for delivering chemotherapy drugs.”

Pepfactants® is seeking both investment and strategic product development partners in Australia and overseas to assist in the next stage of developing the technology. Pepfactants® was recognised with an Emerging Technology Award at the TechConnect Summit 2006 in Boston.

On this site