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

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.