The Basque company IDOKI SCF Technologies, located in the Bizkaia Technology Park, has released a new range of products for pharmaceutical use derived from its research studies on supercritical fluid technology. IDOKI’s processes mainly focus on the identification of active principles in natural raw materials. Once these target compounds are selected, IDOKI outlines the technological process to extract them from top quality raw materials, purify them and incorporate them in standard or new formulations.

Accordingly, IDOKI has the necessary analytical chemistry and microbiology equipment for product analysis and activity evaluation. IDOKI's R&D focuses on three major areas: industrial applications, agro-food and galenics. Regarding the latter, the company works in dermatology - with already marketed products – as well as in the gynaecology and digestive fields, with products still under development.

A supercritical compound is any substance at a temperature and pressure above its critical points. In these conditions, the fluid is halfway between a gas and a liquid and therefore profits from both having a great penetration capacity in solid matrices - like a gas - and compound dissolution properties - like a liquid. Consequently, supercritical fluids (SCF) are excellent extracting agents that render highly pure and concentrated extracts. Moreover, supercritical carbon dioxide, further than providing zero solvent extracts, allows the extraction of thermolabile compounds, as the process runs at low temperature.

In particular, the new portfolio of natural and ecological products already in the market under the IDOKI brand is framed in the “optimal health” concept, as it aims at supporting bodily functions in the most efficient and friendly way as possible.

Beyond product development, IDOKI tackles knowledge generation through cooperation in research projects either with other companies or with private or public research centres.