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Determine and Confirm the Field Use Protocol for NanoProject Non-Toxic Decontaminate for Facilities and Equipment Following a Bio-Incident

Award Information
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Branch: N/A
Contract: EPD05048
Agency Tracking Number: B04P4-0002
Amount: $224,665.60
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: 04-NCER-P4
Solicitation Number: PR-NC-04-10486
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-04-01
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2006-06-30
Small Business Information
2311 Green Road, Suite A
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
United States
DUNS: 177653487
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Tarek Hamouda
 Director of Nanoemulsion R&D
 (734) 302-4000
 tarek.Hamouda@nanobio.com
Business Contact
 John Coffey
Title: Vice President of Business Development
Phone: (734) 302-4000
Email: John.coffey@nanobio.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

NanoBio Corporation’s antimicrobial nanoemulsion technology was developed

by Dr. James R. Baker at the University of Michigan Medical School over a period

of 7 years. Research was funded through grants from the Defense Advanced Research

Program Agency, which identified a need to have a nontoxic, noncorrosive biodefense

decontaminate material that can decontaminate equipment, personnel, structures,

and terrain in the event of a bioincident. A series of surfactant lipid nanoemulsions,

which have extensive antimicrobial activity and are not toxic to tissues, resulted

from this effort. Nanoemulsions are oil-in-water emulsions that employ droplets

ranging from 200-800 nm. They are composed of detergents, vegetable oil, salt,

water, and a food-grade alcohol, and for anthrax decontamination, a spore germination

enhancer. The physical structure of the nanoemulsion contains the surfactants

that mediate the antimicrobial activity. The emulsion droplet disrupts microorganisms

through fusion and the destabilization of the cell membrane leading to lysis.

In December 1999, the U.S. Army tested a broad spectrum nanoemulsion and nine

other biodecontamination technologies in Dugway, Utah, against an anthrax surrogate,

Bacillus globigii. Nanoemulsion was one of four technologies that proved effective

and was the only nontoxic formulation available. Other tests against the vaccine

strain of B. anthracis (Sterne strain) were conducted by the John Hopkins University

Applied Physics Laboratory and by the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research.

The Phase I research project funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) focused on optimization of NanoProtect™’s formulations for

efficacy against B. anthracis and confirmation of product stability. The objective

of this Phase II project is to confirm field use and post-use protocols for

NanoProtect™ nontoxic decontamination for facilities and equipment following

a bioincident. The most efficacious decontamination protocol will be determined

through efficacy tests against Bacillus spores and other possible “bio-attack” pathogens.

Tests will be conducted on materials typically found in buildings. Extended

product stability tests will continue in parallel.

The commercial application of the NanoProtect™ technology is that of

a nontoxic, safe- for-humans, biodecontamination for standby emergency use

by first responders. Customers will include federal, state, and local governments

and distributors who will sell the product to corporations and consumers. NanoBio

Corporation will provide sales and customer support, and a subcontractor will

manufacture the product. NanoBio Corporation management has significant business

experience applicable to the projects required for the commercial success of

NanoProtect™. NanoBio Corporation is well funded for the commercialization

of the products in its production pipeline.

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

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