Methods for stably incorporating substances within dry, foamed glass matrices and compositions obtained thereby

Abstract

The invention provides methods for producing foamed glass and the compositions obtained thereby. The compositions are suitable for stable storage of a wide variety of substances, particularly biological and pharmaceutical.

1 - 77 . (canceled)  
     
     
         78 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a foamed glass matrix.  
     
     
         79 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one substance incorporated into foamed glass matrices (FGMs).  
     
     
         80 . A composition obtainable by reconstituting the foamed glass matrices of  claim 79 .  
     
     
         81 . The composition according to  claim 79 , wherein the substance is a bioactive substance.  
     
     
         82 . A composition obtainable by reconstituting the foamed glass matrices (FGMs) of  claim 81 .  
     
     
         83 . A composition comprising a foamed glass matrix and a therapeutic or diagnostic agent incorporated within the matrix, wherein the agent is an organic molecule or a virus.  
     
     
         84 . A composition comprising a foamed glass matrix and a therapeutic or diagnostic agent incorporated within the matrix, wherein the matrix is formed from a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         85 . A composition according to  claim 84 , wherein the agent is a cell or bacterial microorganism  
     
     
         86 . A composition according to  claim 83  wherein the agent is a virus.  
     
     
         87 . A composition according to  claim 84 , wherein the agent is a virus.  
     
     
         88 . A composition according to  claim 83 , wherein the agent is a protein, peptide or nucleic acid.  
     
     
         89 . A composition according to  claim 84 , wherein the agent is a protein, peptide or nucleic acid.  
     
     
         90 . A composition according to  claim 83  wherein the foamed glass matrix is formed from a stabilizing polyol.  
     
     
         91 . A composition according to  claim 86  wherein the foamed glass matrix is formed from a stabilizing polyol.  
     
     
         92 . A composition according to  claim 88  wherein the foamed glass matrix is formed from a stabilizing polyol.  
     
     
         93 . A composition according to  claim 90 , wherein the stabilizing polyol is a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         94 . A composition according to  claim 91  wherein the stabilizing polyol is a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         95 . A composition according to  claim 92  wherein the stabilizing polyol is a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         96 . A composition according to any of  claims 78  to  95 , wherein the matrix is formed from glucose, sucrose or lactose.  
     
     
         97 . A composition according to any of  claims 78  to  95 , wherein the matrix is formed from trehalose.  
     
     
         98 . A composition comprising a foamed glass matrix and, incorporated within the matrix, a therapeutic or prophylactic agent, wherein the agent is a virus; a lipid; an organic; a synthetic protein or peptide; a natural or synthetic protein or peptide selected from: an enzyme, a growth hormone, a growth factor, insulin, an antibody, an interferon, an interleukin or a cytokine; a peptide mimetic; a hormone; a D or L amino acid polymer; an oligosaccharide; a polysaccharide; a nucleotide; an oligonucleotide; a nucleic acid; a protein nucleic acid hybrid; or a small molecule and physiologically active analogues thereof.  
     
     
         99 . A composition comprising a foamed glass matrix and, incorporated within the matrix, a therapeutic or prophylactic agent, wherein the matrix is formed from a carbohydrate selected from: a monosaccharide, a disaccharide selected from maltose, iso-maltose, lactose, maltulose, iso-maltulose, lactulose, sucrose, cillibiose and mannobiose, a trisaccharide, a sugar alcohol, an oligosaccharide or its corresponding sugar alcohol, a carbohydfrate derivative, a chemically modified carbohydrate, hydroxyethyl starch, a sugar copolymer, a synthetic carbohydrate or a straight chain polyalcohol.