High tech News: April 2009

FEBRUARY 2009 | MARCH 2009

New biodegradable Earth Plastic breaks down in landfills
April 17, 2009

ATLANTA—Not all important technological advances flow from the types of companies we usually think of as high tech such as IT, biotech and alternative energy companies. Atlanta-based American Trade Products, a nearly 20-year old firm that specializes in recyclable thermoformed plastic products for painting, storage and plumbing lines, has come up with a revolutionary plastic material that is 100 percent biodegradable.

The company introduced its “Earth Plastic” this month, a material made from recycled plastic and a proprietary blend of additives that enables microorganisms to break it down into a non harmful soil like material in landfill and compost environments. It is also 100 percent recyclable.

Bioscience News: April 2009

FEBRUARY 2009 | MARCH 2009

Orthopedics startup MedShape raises $8M

April 3, 2009

An Atlanta startup has raised $8 million and received regulatory approval for its first product — a medical implant used to treat shoulder injuries.

MedShape Solutions Inc. has developed a shape-changing polymer material that helps fuse bone to bone and soft tissue to bone. Surgeons drill a hole into the bone and insert the polymer to which soft tissue, like tendons, can be anchored.

In addition to the $8 million raised from angel investors, MedShape hopes to close on an additional $2 million round in the second quarter, MedShape CEO Kurt Jacobus said.

The company also won about $2 million in research grants from the state and federal governments this year.

UGA licenses pathogen-kill tech to FIT

April 6, 2009

The University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc. licensed a new technology that kills pathogens on foods to HealthPro Brands Inc., the maker of FIT Fruit and Vegetable Wash.

Financial terms were not disclosed. The exclusive license includes sublicensing rights and is for select countries around the world, including the United States.

The technology, invented by scientists from The University of Georgia Center for Food Safety, can kill significant numbers of dangerous E. coli and salmonella in less than one minute, but it is recommended that the wash be applied from one to five minutes. The technology can be used as a food wash, with commercial applications for the produce, poultry, meat and egg processing industries. The wash has no effects on smell, taste or appearance of the foods that are treated.