Method of long-term preservation of chemical and biological species using sugar glasses

Abstract

A method of preserving the one or more chemical and/or biological species in a polymer matrix comprising pullulan and trehalose is described. The method includes combining the one or more chemical and/or biological species, an aqueous pullulan and a trehalose solution and drying the resultant mixture to provide a solid polymeric matrix. A polymeric matrix comprising one or more chemical and/or biological species and its use, for example, on surfaces for food preparation, for food preservation and in biological preparations is also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preserving and/or stabilizing one or more chemical and/or biological species comprising:
 a. combining the one or more chemical and/or biological species, pullulan, trehalose and water to provide a mixture; and   b. drying the mixture to form a polymer matrix which preserves and/or stabilizes the one or more chemical and/or biological species.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more chemical and/or biological species are combined with a solution of pullulan and trehalose. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein drying is selected from air drying, vacuum drying, freeze drying, spray drying, and foam drying. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pullulan has a molecular weight in the range of about 100,000 Da to about 200,000 Da. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more chemical or biological species are preserved at a temperature of from about 2° C. to about 40° C. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more chemical and/or biological species are preserved and/or stabilized for at least 6 days at the above temperatures. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more additives are added to the mixture, and/or to the one or more chemical and/or biological species, the pullulan and/or the trehalose prior to drying. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more additives change physical properties of the polymer matrix selected from solubility, dissolution rate, friability, transparency, tactile impression, flavor, texture and plasticity. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture is drop cast into a specific shape prior to drying. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture is formed into a film, a foam, or a shaped object. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture is coated onto a substance or surface prior to drying. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises about 10 wt % to about 50 wt % of pullulan and about 50 wt % to about 90 wt % of trehalose, based on the dry weight of the matrix. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises about 30 wt % to about 45 wt % of pullulan and about 60 wt % to about 70 wt % of trehalose, based on the dry weight of the matrix. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein drying forms an amorphous polymer matrix. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more chemical and/or biological species comprises a small molecule, a protein, an enzyme, an antibody, a peptide, a nucleic acid, a virus, and/or a vaccine. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vaccine comprises an antigen or a nucleic acid that codes for an antigen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the antigen comprises a protein subunit, polysaccharide conjugate, live-attenuated virus, inactivated virus, and/or bacteriophage. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vaccine further comprises an adjuvant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vaccine further comprises a lipid nanoparticle, exosome, and/or lysosome. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the virus comprises an enveloped virus, helical virus, polyhedral virus, or complex virus.