POLYMERIC MEMBRANE BARRIERS FOR ANIMAL ISOLATION

Award Information

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Branch: N/A

Contract: N/A

Agency Tracking Number: 11385

Amount: $416,847.00

Phase: Phase II

Program: SBIR

Solicitation Topic Code: N/A

Solicitation Number: N/A

Timeline

Solicitation Year: N/A

Award Year: 1990

Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A

Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A

Small Business Information

Horizon Micro-environments

2351 College Station Rd #575

Athens, GA 30605

United States

DUNS: N/A

HUBZone Owned: No

Woman Owned: No

Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No

Principal Investigator

Phone: () -

Business Contact

Phone: () -

Research Institution

N/A

Abstract

THIS RESEARCH WILL TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF USING INEXPENSIVE POLYMERIC MEMBRANES TO SERVE AS PASSIVE CONTAMINANT BARRIERS FOR LABORATORY ANIMALS. THEORETICAL CALCULATIONS SHOW THAT THE FLUX OF ANIMAL RESPIRATORY GASES THROUGH POLYMERIC MEMBRANES CAN BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT LIFE FOR ANIMALS IN HERMETICALLY SEALED ENVIRONMENTS. THESE MEMBRANES COULD BE USED TO PROTECT ANIMALS FROM AIRBORNE PATHOGENS WHILE PERMITTING THE RAPID PASSAGE OF ATMOSPHERIC GASES NECESSARY FOR RESPIRATION. BESIDES PROTECTING ANIMALS FROM EXTRANEOUS CONTAMINATION, THEY CAN BE USED TO PROTECT LABORATORY PERSONNEL FROM ALLERGENS AND INFECTIOUS AGENTS. MEMBRANES SUPPORTED ON POROUS SUBSTRATES SHOULD BE USEFUL FOR ANIMAL CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS IN RESEARCH, BREEDING, HOUSING, AND SHIPPING OF RESEARCH ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THE RESULTING TECHNOLOGY WILL PROVIDE AN ECONOMICAL MEANS TO CONTROL ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES ENCOUNTERED IN ANIMAL HOUSING. RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON DEVELOPING AN OPTIMAL MEMBRANE/SUPPORT COMBINATION. MEMBRANE/SUPPORT COMBINATIONS WILL THEN BE TESTED FOR GAS EXCHANGE WITH LIVE ANIMALS AND FOR BARRIER EFFECTIVENESS IN MICROBIAL CHALLENGES.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

You are here

POLYMERIC MEMBRANE BARRIERS FOR ANIMAL ISOLATION