Pulsed light selective photolysis process for treatment of biological media

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A novel irradiation process and products made thereby. the process treats biological media such as blood factions, genetically engineered protein products and vaccine preparations. The process photolyzes nucleic acids in preference to proteins in the media, e.g. it inactivates DNAor RNA-containing pathogens while leaving the proteins substantially intact or functional. In general the process, comprises irradiating the medium with pulsed light of wavelength and flux selected so that (1) the nucleic acids in their ground state absorb radiation and thereby rise to an excited state or states, (2) the nucleic acids in their excited states absorb radiation and thereby rise to higher energy states …