Compositions and methods for stabilizing susceptible compounds

Abstract

Methods for increasing the stability of, or protecting, labile components, such as ethanolamine, growth factors, vitamins, etc., in compositions such as a cell culture medium, are described. Stability of the labile compound is increased either, by derivatization or by sequestering the labile compound. Sequestering can be done either by encapsulation within a microcapsule or by the use of sequestering agents. Encapsulation can provide controlled release of the susceptible compound being protected. These methods may improve or extend the storage conditions, the shipping and handling of media compositions comprising the labile compounds at room temperature rather than at lower temperatures, thereby decreasing shipping costs.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 .- 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method of increasing the stability of a media comprising a labile compound, comprising:
 a. reacting a labile compound with a dendrimer to produce a dendrimer-labile compound complex, and   b. encapsulating the dendrimer-labile compound complex within a sequestering agent to produce an encapsulated and protected dendrimer-labile compound complex, wherein the encapsulated and protected dendrimer-labile compound complex is protected from adverse reactions with another component in the media and the media has enhanced stability at room temperature and without refrigeration.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said labile compound is selected from the group consisting of a growth factor, a vitamin, a cytokine, a peptide, a hormone and ethanolamine. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said media is a dry media. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein said dry media is an agglomerated media. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said sequestering agent is a soluble matrix made up of a molecule comprising an alcohol, a ketone or an aldehyde. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said soluble matrix is made up of a sugar. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the sugar is maltodextrin. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said sequestering agent is an insoluble matrix selected from the group consisting of alginate, poly-L-lactic acid, chitosan, agarose, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, dextran, dextran sulfate, heparin, heparin sulfate, heparan sulfate, gellan gum, xanthan gum, guar gum, water soluble cellulose derivatives, poly-glycolic acid, PLGA (poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid), collagen, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), poly-ε-caprolactone, poly-ortho esters, poly-anhydrides, poly-phosphazenes, poly-amino acids, polydimethylsiloxane, polyurethranes, poly-tetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polysulphone, poly-methyl methacrylate, poly-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyamides, polypropylene, poly-vinyl chloride, polystyrene, poly-vinyl pyrrolidone and carrageenan. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the dendrimer is selected from the group consisting of a polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer, a polypropylenimine (PPI) dendrimer, a phosphorylated dendrimer, a polylysine dendrimer, a polyethylenimine dendrimer, an iptycene dendrimer, an aliphatic poly(ether) dendrimer, an aromatic polyether dendrimer, and a polypropylamine (POPAM) dendrimer.