Aphios Corporation

SuperFluids^TM CFD

Aphios Corporation’s patented SuperFluids™ critical fluid microbial cell disruption (CFD) process is based on the physical phenomenon that large explosive decompressive forces can be readily effected upon the depressurization of supercritical, critical or near-critical fluids, and is further enhanced by their unique solvation and transport properties [US Patent No. 5,380,826].

In the CFD process, microbial cells are contacted with SuperFluids™, which penetrate the cells and swell them. Upon decompression, the cells either rupture at their weakest points as a result of decompressive forces like the embolic disruption of a scuba diver’s ear from rising too rapidly [as shown by the SuperFluids™ CFD disrupted yeast cell to the right] or become more permeable releasing their intracellular contents as a result of phospholipid solvation and delipidation.

The SuperFluids™ CFD process has the following characteristics:

More effective than industrial scale processes at equivalent pressures, e.g. while high pressure homogenizers are ineffective against Bacillus subtilis — a tough Gram positive bacteria — at pressures less than 8,000 psig, the CFD process readily disrupts this species at pressures less than 5,000 psig.
Negligible product activity degradation due to mechanical and thermal effects because there is very little shear and no heat generation; the CFD process, in fact, provides significant cooling to the microbial cell slurry and recovered proteins.
Generally applicable to various classes of microorganisms since the ability to adjust pressure, temperature, and residence time imparts various degrees of flexibility to the CFD process.
Highly selective in that SuperFluids™ conditions can be adjusted to recover periplasmic proteins and enzymes such as heparinase versus cytoplasmic constituents such as proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, etc.

Readily scalable up or down, amenable to batch or continuous-flow operations and applicable to microbial slurries or solids (dry cells).