A recent study concluded that CyreneTM could be a safer and more sustainable alternative to the solvents currently used in medical implants and drug delivery systems. The research found that renewable solvent CyreneTM, made by biotech company Circa Group, can produce high-purity nanoparticles.
According to its website “Circa Group converts waste, non-food biomass into advanced bio-based chemicals with its proprietary Furacell™ process. Circa’s FuracellTM process reduces the carbon footprint of Cyrene by up to 80% compared to similar petro-based solvents. Reduction in GHG emissions are also expected in both the use and at the end-of-life stages of Cyrene™. By creating renewable chemicals from cellulose, Circa is extracting value from non-food, waste biomass and addressing a gap in the market by providing bio-based alternatives contributing to a more circular economy.”
The study, which took place in Germany used bio-based CyreneTM to produce poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles for drug delivery systems. Both CyreneTM and the resulting nanoparticles were found to be biocompatible, and are perfectly suitable to substitute the toxic and harmful organic solvents that are commonly used in their preparation. Employing Cyrene™ produced high-quality nanoparticles and also led to an important decrease in preparation time when compared to industry-standard solvents.
Over one million tonnes of conventional dipolar aprotic solvents are used per year, although under strong regulatory measures, due to their toxicity; CyreneTM is a renewable and safer alternative to these.
The lead researcher on the project, Professor Dagmar Fischer, from the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, said, “In comparison to the standard techniques used for the formulation of drug loaded polymer nanoparticles, interestingly with CyreneTM it is possible to effectively reduce process time and process steps.”
Tony Duncan, CEO of Circa Group, said, “We are not surprised that CyreneTM continues to show performance benefits in a range of medical and pharmaceutical applications. Extensive research shows it is a safer and more sustainable, high-performance alternative.”
