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Advantages of the Technology
Advantages Over Other PCA Techniques
CritiTech’s approach to PCA uses
a supercritical CO2-powered ultrasonic nozzle. Other companies
in the industry that use PCA report techniques that use conventional
capillary spray nozzles.
The main advantages of CritiTech’s
approach over conventional PCA techniques are:
- The ultrasonic nozzle-based process
is capable of producing discrete nanoparticles in an exceptionally
narrow size range.
- CritiTech’s proprietary particle
harvesting device allows continuous processing of compounds.
Conventional SCF techniques require processing in batch
lots.
Advantages Over Milling Techniques
CritiTech’s PCA method
is superior to milling techniques because:
- Particle formation occurs in a
far shorter time - minutes/hours as opposed to days/weeks.
- PCA produces a much narrower range
of particle sizes than milling.
- Milling processes induce electrostatic
charge on the particles, which necessitates coating of the
resulting particles to prevent re-agglomeration. PCA methods
do not induce such electrostatic charges onto particles.
- PCA processing does not require
removal of the milling agent.
- PCA processing is safely conducted
in closed systems with complete recovery of solvents and
CO2 for reuse or safe disposal.
Advantages Over Fluidized
Air Coating Techniques
CritiTech’s particle coating technology
has significant advantages over the current system of spray
coating that is standard in the industry. The use of supercritical
carbon dioxide allows the process to work with coating materials
that are only soluble in organic solvents, or are sensitive
to elevated temperatures. Both of these factors preclude the
use of Wurster-type fluidized bed coaters. Pharmaceutical
compounds requiring taste masking, time-release, or an increased
oral absorption by coating with drug nanoparticles are example
markets for this process.
The CritiTech coating process
has the following advantages over conventional fluidized air
based coating processes:
- A significantly reduced risk
of fire and explosion when using organic solvents due to
operation at lower temperatures (31-45°C) with dense
carbon dioxide.
- Enormous flexibility for controlling
the size and morphology of particulate coatings. Several
of the operating parameters (pressure, temperature, solute
concentration, type of nozzle, type of solvent) are adjustable
to achieve the desired coating.
- Easy separation and recycling
of the organic solvent and the CO2
- Coatings that are virtually solvent-free
can be obtained in a relatively short time. For additional
information regarding these technologies, please contact
the company.
Environmental Advantages
A final advantage of CritiTech’s SCF
based technologies lies in the environmentally friendly nature
of the processes. Organic solvents traditionally used in the
industry may be hazardous to the environment or toxic to humans
and animals. Because of the closed loop nature of the supercritical
processes employed by CritiTech, the release of harmful substances
to the atmosphere is substantially reduced, if not totally
eliminated.
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