Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a formula and process for making elastomeric rubber thin film articles. In particular, the formula and process is a system which produces non-Hevea or Guayule natural rubber latex (GNRL) thin film articles which have a thickness of 30-80 microns (0.03-0.08 mm), and preferably less than 40 microns (0.04 mm). These thin film articles exhibit physical strength properties similar to that of Hevea brazilensis natural rubber latex (NRL). More specifically, the disclosed thin rubber thin film articles exhibit unaged tensile strength of at least 24 MPa (about 3500 psi) and aged tensile strength of at least 19 MPa (about 2800 psi).

Abstract: A novel two-layer endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff for the prevention of pneumonia is disclosed. The disclosed two-layer ETT comprises a standard HVLP cuff covered with a second layer of elastomeric material with a sterile gel inserted between the layers. The two-layer cuff forms no folds when inflated in the trachea and prevents leakage, substantially reducing the risk for pneumonia attributable to standard ETT cuffs.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a method of rapid expanded solvent extraction of biopolymers, such as rubber, from plant materials, such as guayule, using an expanded hexane solvent. As is illustrated herein, the use of the expanded hexane solvent results in a markedly more efficient and rapid extraction process over other supercritical carbon dioxide extraction systems, including those systems using a hexane cosolvent.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to a process for making elastomeric rubber articles, and in particular, the process of producing such articles from non-Hevea brazilensis rubber sources, such as Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) natural rubber that exhibits physical strength properties similar to or superior to that of Hevea brazilensis natural rubber latex. In one embodiment, the process comprises an accelerator composition at the pre-cure stage comprised of variable combinations of a dithiocarbamate, a thiazole, a guanidine, a thiuram, or a sulfenamide. The accelerator composition may be comprised of, but is not limited to, zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC), t-butyl benzothiazosulfenamide (TBBS) and diphenyl guanidine (DPG); an accelerator composition comprised of zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (ZDEC), n-cyclohexyl benzothiazosulfenamide (CBTS) and diphenyl guanidine (DPG). The disclosed invention also includes the elastomeric articles made by the disclosed process.

Abstract: A method for the extraction, separation, fractionation and purification of biopolymers from plant materials using supercritical and/or subcritical solvent extractions is disclosed. Specifically, the process can be used for the separation of resins and rubber from guayule shrub (Parthenium argentatum), and other rubber and/or resin containing plant materials, using supercritical solvent extraction, for example supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. Additionally, polar and/or non-polar co-solvents can be used with supercritical carbon dioxide to enhance the selective extraction of resins and rubbers from the shrub.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a non-Hevea, non-synthetic, low-allergenic, low-protein latex product that conforms to the standards published by the American Society for Testing Materials for Hevea latex products, and a new method and standard for determining the qualitative and quantitative properties of such products, including the substitutability of and superiority to Hevea and synthetic latex products.

Abstract: A method for the extraction, separation, fractionation and purification of biopolymers from plant materials using supercritical and/or subcritical solvent extractions is disclosed. Specifically, the process can be used for the separation of resins and rubber from guayule shrub (Parthenium argentatum), and other rubber and/or resin containing plant materials, using supercritical solvent extraction, for example supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. Additionally, polar and/or non-polar co-solvents can be used with supercritical carbon dioxide to enhance the selective extraction of resins and rubbers from the shrub.

Abstract: Transgenic guayule lines were created by constitutively expressing transgenes that encode for prenyltransferase and allylic diphosphate synthase. These new lines are important to rubber production because they result in plants that produce latex rubber which is lower in guayulin, a compound that produces a skin irritation in some animals. Controlling prenyltransferase production also permits the control of the production of resin by the plants, which has important industrial implications. Additionally, prenyltransferase manipulation can result in latex particles of different size, containing rubber of different molecular weight, which is also significant to industrial production. Although the elevated prenyltransferase activity in the transgenic lines resulted in shorter rubber molecules, the number of rubber molecules made by these transgenic lines was increased.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a new technique of genetic transformation using low light conditions and leaf strips in the Guayule plant, Parthenium argentatum. The invention also relates to new lines of Guayule, created through this technique.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plants. Specifically, invention described herein relates to the commercial processing of plant material, including that from desert plants native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, such as the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum), for the extraction of biopolymers, including natural rubbers. More specifically, the invention relates to laboratory to commercial scale extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plant materials including the chemical and mechanical processing of the plants and purification of the extracted biopolymer.

Abstract: A method for the extraction, separation, fractionation and purification of biopolymers from plant materials using supercritical and/or subcritical solvent extractions is disclosed. Specifically, the process can be used for the separation of resins and rubber from guayule shrub (Parthenium argentatum), and other rubber and/or resin containing plant materials, using supercritical solvent extraction, for example supercritical carbon dioxide extraction. Additionally, polar and/or non-polar co-solvents can be used with supercritical carbon dioxide to enhance the selective extraction of resins and rubbers from the shrub.