OSLO, NORWAY - 13 July 2021 - A study using renewable solvent CyreneTM, produced
by biotechnology company Circa Group, found that high-purity nanoparticles can
be produced - opening up opportunities to use CyreneTM as a more sustainable and
safer replacement for current solvents used in drug delivery systems and medical
implants. 

New research out of Germany used bio-based CyreneTM to produce
poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles for drug delivery systems. CyreneTM
itself and the nanoparticles were found to be biocompatible - meaning it is well
suited to replace toxic harmful organic solvents more commonly used in their
preparation. Using CyreneTM produced high-quality nanoparticles and led to a
significant decrease in preparation time when compared to industry-standard
solvents.

CyreneTM is an alternative to traditional dipolar aprotic solvents, which are
used in large volumes - over one million tonnes per year - and under intense
regulatory pressure due their toxicity. 

Professor Dagmar Fischer, from the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität
Erlangen-Nürnberg, and the lead researcher on the project, 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."

 

About Circa
Established in 2006, Circa Group converts waste, non-food biomass into advanced
bio-based chemicals with its proprietary FuracellTM 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 CyreneTM. 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.
https://circa-group.com/

Media Contact 
Bárbara Mendes-Jorge
Sustainability Consult
bmj@sustainabilityconsult.com 
+32 485 92 05 81
www.sustainabilityconsult.com