Vytex Natural Rubber Latex
Encyclopedia
Vytex Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) is a brand of natural rubber latex
produced and marketed by Vystar Corporation. Vytex NRL is an alternative material to petroleum-based synthetics
and traditional, or Hevea
, natural rubber latex. Protein test results show that Vytex NRL typically has 90% fewer antigenic proteins than Hevea natural rubber latex.
Physical properties of Vytex include barrier protection, elasticity, tactile sensitivity, strength, comfort and fit. Vytex comes in two grades: Vytex high ammonia (Vytex HA) for surgical, exam and rubber gloves, catheters and balloons, and Vytex low ammonia (Vytex LA) for adhesive and foam applications.
In May 2009 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted 510(k) clearance to market and sell a condom made with Vytex that contains less than 2 μg/dm2
of antigenic proteins.
Vytex was created in 2005 by a global team of scientists including Travis Honeycutt, who holds more than 100 patents. Vystar holds two U.S. patents
, an additional pending application, and multiple international patent filings for Vytex NRL.
Vytex is produced by Revertex Malaysia and distributed by Centrotrade Minerals and Metals, Inc.
, proteins in latex cause a range of allergic reactions. Allergies to latex are most common in healthcare workers, although there is a lack of awareness among nurses that frequent exposure to latex triggers latex allergy
.
Natural rubber latex contains over 200 protein
s, similar to other natural plant materials, of which 13 are known allergens.[need citation] Vytex NRL is created through a process that significantly reduces these proteins.
to prevent coagulation
and is transported to a processing facility for concentrating and compounding.
Aluminum hydroxide, an amphoteric
protein binding chemical, is added to the latex source material while still in liquid form to complex and remove the antigenic proteins. Alumnium hydroxide can form a jelly-like structure suspending any unwanted materials in water, including bacteria. Under certain conditions, it produces protein complexes that are removed from the Vytex NRL solution.
, used to measure the total extractable proteins in natural rubber latex, and the ELISA Inhibition ASTM D6499-07 test
, used to test for antigenic latex proteins.
Un-leached sample films and products made with Vytex NRL have been independently tested for protein levels at three time intervals: 1) immediately after production, 2) after 21 days of storage and, 3) after 6 months of storage.
Test results during all phases of protein testing generated less than 10 ug/dm2 of antigenic protein using the ELISA protein test method. Products made from Vytex NRL under similar conditions used for Hevea natural rubber latex production frequently exhibit less than 0.2 ug/dm2 of antigenic protein. Overall, Vytex NRL typically has 90% fewer antigenic proteins than Hevea natural rubber latex.
Latex
Latex is the stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic.Latex as found in nature is a milky fluid found in 10% of all flowering plants . It is a complex emulsion consisting of proteins, alkaloids, starches, sugars, oils, tannins, resins,...
produced and marketed by Vystar Corporation. Vytex NRL is an alternative material to petroleum-based synthetics
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
and traditional, or Hevea
Hevea
Hevea is a genus of flowering plants in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is also one of many names used commercially for the wood of the most economically important species H. brasiliensis.-Selected species:* Hevea benthamiana Müll.Arg....
, natural rubber latex. Protein test results show that Vytex NRL typically has 90% fewer antigenic proteins than Hevea natural rubber latex.
Physical properties of Vytex include barrier protection, elasticity, tactile sensitivity, strength, comfort and fit. Vytex comes in two grades: Vytex high ammonia (Vytex HA) for surgical, exam and rubber gloves, catheters and balloons, and Vytex low ammonia (Vytex LA) for adhesive and foam applications.
In May 2009 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted 510(k) clearance to market and sell a condom made with Vytex that contains less than 2 μg/dm2
Decimetre
A decimetre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one tenth of a metre, the SI base unit of length. In simple words there are 10 cm in a decimetre....
of antigenic proteins.
Vytex was created in 2005 by a global team of scientists including Travis Honeycutt, who holds more than 100 patents. Vystar holds two U.S. patents
United States patent law
United States patent law was established "to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;" as provided by the United States Constitution. Congress implemented these...
, an additional pending application, and multiple international patent filings for Vytex NRL.
Vytex is produced by Revertex Malaysia and distributed by Centrotrade Minerals and Metals, Inc.
Antigenic proteins
According to the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
, proteins in latex cause a range of allergic reactions. Allergies to latex are most common in healthcare workers, although there is a lack of awareness among nurses that frequent exposure to latex triggers latex allergy
Latex allergy
Latex allergy is a medical term encompassing a range of allergic reactions to natural rubber latex.-Type I:The most serious and rare form, type I is an immediate and potentially life-threatening reaction, not unlike the severe reaction some people have to bee stings...
.
Natural rubber latex contains over 200 protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
s, similar to other natural plant materials, of which 13 are known allergens.[need citation] Vytex NRL is created through a process that significantly reduces these proteins.
Scientific process
Vytex Natural Rubber Latex comes from the sap in the Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree, which is primarily grown in Southeast Asia. Natural rubber latex is a cloudy white liquid collected by cutting a thin strip of bark from the tree and allowing the latex to be secreted into a collection cup over a period of several hours. After collection, the latex is treated with ammoniaAmmonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
to prevent coagulation
Denaturation (biochemistry)
Denaturation is a process in which proteins or nucleic acids lose their tertiary structure and secondary structure by application of some external stress or compound, such as a strong acid or base, a concentrated inorganic salt, an organic solvent , or heat...
and is transported to a processing facility for concentrating and compounding.
Aluminum hydroxide, an amphoteric
Amphoterism
In chemistry, an amphoteric species is a molecule or ion that can react as an acid as well as a base. The word is derived from the Greek word amphoteroi meaning "both"...
protein binding chemical, is added to the latex source material while still in liquid form to complex and remove the antigenic proteins. Alumnium hydroxide can form a jelly-like structure suspending any unwanted materials in water, including bacteria. Under certain conditions, it produces protein complexes that are removed from the Vytex NRL solution.
Testing for levels of proteins
Samples of treated Vytex NRL are subjected to the Modified Lowry ASTM D5712-05 testLowry protein assay
The Lowry protein assay is a biochemical assay for determining the total level of protein in a solution. The total protein concentration is exhibited by a color change of the sample solution in proportion to protein concentration, which can then be measured using colorimetric techniques. It is...
, used to measure the total extractable proteins in natural rubber latex, and the ELISA Inhibition ASTM D6499-07 test
ELISA
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay , is a popular format of a "wet-lab" type analytic biochemistry assay that uses one sub-type of heterogeneous, solid-phase enzyme immunoassay to detect the presence of a substance in a liquid sample."Wet lab" analytic biochemistry assays involves detection of an...
, used to test for antigenic latex proteins.
Un-leached sample films and products made with Vytex NRL have been independently tested for protein levels at three time intervals: 1) immediately after production, 2) after 21 days of storage and, 3) after 6 months of storage.
Test results during all phases of protein testing generated less than 10 ug/dm2 of antigenic protein using the ELISA protein test method. Products made from Vytex NRL under similar conditions used for Hevea natural rubber latex production frequently exhibit less than 0.2 ug/dm2 of antigenic protein. Overall, Vytex NRL typically has 90% fewer antigenic proteins than Hevea natural rubber latex.