New System Helps Real-Time Monitoring, Characterisation, Control Of Polymer Properties For Medical Applications

New system helps real-time monitoring, characterisation, control of polymer properties for medical applications

28-Apr-17

Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerisation Reactions (ACOMP) is a smart manufacturing system that continuously monitors and characterises critical polymer properties during polymerisation reactions and post-processing steps. The advantage of continuously analysing the process in real time allows for faster and more precise control of production. If there is an issue in production and an adjustment is not made in a timely manner, the reaction may produce a polymer batch that is off-spec or unusable.

The underlying technology for the company’s automatic continuous online monitoring of polymer reactions (ACOMP) product line, was developed in Prof. Reed’s lab over the past 16 years. The commercialization of this technology allows manufacturers to monitor fundamental polymer properties continuously during the reaction enabling much more efficient control over the quality of the product and the use of production, feedstock and energy inputs.

Advanced Polymer Monitoring Technologies, Inc. (APMT), a spin-out company based on Tulane University technology, has released two products for polymer and biotechnology applications. APMT entered into an exclusive license agreement with Tulane for a number of patents and patent applications invented by Prof. Wayne F. Reed, Director, Tulane Center for Polymer Reaction Monitoring and Characterization (PolyRMC). APMT’s other product line, Argen, is a 16 channel light scattering tool that enables researchers and manufacturers to rapidly and continuously monitor the stability of their products under varying stressor conditions. Argen applications include characterization of biopharmaceutical stability, polymer degradation, and stability of other formulations such as paints, electronic materials and nano-particle suspensions. The technology enabling the Argen product line was also developed by Prof. Reed’s team at Tulane.

APMT maintains a close relationship with Tulane, including collaborative research projects advancing capabilities and applications of both ACOMP and Argen, and training of over 18 interns in engineering physics, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, business and law.