New Natural Rubber Latex to Debut at International Latex Conference

ATLANTA -- Atlanta-based Vystar Corporation will introduce its revolutionary new latex named Vytex to manufacturers of latex products at the International Latex Conference to be held in Charlotte, N.C., July 26-27. Described as "the new safe latex," Vytex natural rubber latex is produced through a proprietary process that deactivates antigenic proteins in latex making it safe for use by persons who are allergenic-protein

sensitive.

A technical paper, A Novel Protein-Free Natural Rubber Latex: Properties and Applications, describing the research that created Vytex natural rubber latex and written by Vytex inventor, Vystar president and CEO Travis Honeycutt and Vystar executive vice president and COO William Doyle, will be presented at the conference.

"We are very excited to be included in this prestigious conference," Honeycutt said. "We believe that the introduction of Vytex natural rubber latex will ultimately be recognized as a pivotal event in the development of latex technologies."

Honeycutt went on to explain, "Our process gets protein levels down below ranges standard tests currently label as 'undetectable.' Importantly, Vytex natural rubber latex can replace traditional natural rubber latex in virtually any manufacturing environment," he said, adding, "all of these processes are employed prior to vulcanization of the natural latex rubber."

Doyle pointed out that the invention of Vytex natural rubber latex is particularly critical to the healthcare industry. "Recent focus groups validate the need for a natural rubber latex without the historic problem of allergenic proteins. Operating room nurses and surgeons have expressed dissatisfaction with synthetic substitutes and a desire for latex gloves that would be safe for patients and healthcare workers," Doyle said.

"The past two decades' accelerated use of protective gloves in the healthcare industry to protect against infectious diseases such as AIDS and SARS has escalated the problem. Today estimates put the number of healthcare workers affected by latex allergies as high as 17 percent," he said.

Noting that Vytex natural rubber latex has already garnered the interest of manufacturers across a broad range of product categories, Doyle said that plans to start Vytex natural rubber latex production are underway.

Vytex natural rubber latex is produced through a novel, patented method for the deactivation of the antigenic proteins (AP) in liquid natural rubber latex that involves the quasi-sequestration of these proteins. The Vytex scientific team has found that this method "denatures" the proteins by altering the stereochemistry of their structures, thus reducing the ability to generate an immune response.

Early results indicate that the deactivation method has no adverse effects on the physical and chemical properties of natural rubber latex as it is used in the manufacture of dipped products, and barrier properties may actually be slightly improved over untreated natural rubber latex.  Studies are currently in progress to verify these claims.

Source: Vystar Corporation