APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SUBMICRONI ZATION OF PROTEINS USING SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS

摘要

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the submicronization of proteins using supercritical fluids. The present apparatus comprises: (a) a means for feeding the supercritical fluid; (b) a means for feeding a protein solution; (c) a precipitation vessel with a taper shape at its lower part, wherein the precipitation vessel accommodates the supercritical fluid and the protein solution to generate submicroparticles of the protein; and (d) a spray nozzle with coaxial arrangement comprising an outer nozzle for spraying the supercritical fluid and an inner nozzle for spraying the protein solution, wherein the spray nozzle is connected to the means for feeding the supercritical fluid and the means for feeding a protein solution; wherein an outlet end of the inner nozzle is more protruded than an outlet end of the outer nozzle toward an inner portion of the precipitation vessel; and wherein an contact between the supercritical fluid and the protein solution occurs in the precipitation vessel.