Interactions between sol-gel encapsulated myoglobin and carbon dioxide in supercritical CO2

The development of an isolated reaction vessel suitable for use with superc ritical CO2 is an important step towards conducting valid spectroscopic exp eriments because contamination from the high-pressure vessel is avoided. Th is is crucial when biomolecules are the subject of investigations due to th e ease with which contaminants perturb their reactivity. The combination of sol-gel encapsulation of biologically active molecules with supercritical fluid spectroscopy provides an experimental method for studying CO2 interac tions previously considered inaccessible. The molecules retain their biolog ical activity even under conditions required to maintain the CO2 in the sup ercritical state.