Claims
- 1. Water soluble particles of less than 50 μm comprising a coprecipitant core with a dehydrated biological macromolecule coated thereon.
- 2. Water soluble particles according to claim 1 wherein the coprecipitant is partially or substantially crystalline.
- 3. Water soluble particles according to claim 1 wherein the dehydrated biological macromolecule is selected from peptides, polypeptides, proteins and nucleic acid.
- 4. Water soluble particles according to claim 1 having a diameter less than 10 μm.
- 5. Water soluble particles according to claim 1 wherein the coprecipitant is selected from inorganic salts,
sugars, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, polyols, and derivatives thereof, for example trehalose, with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 Da; amino-acids such as glycine and arginine; acid-base buffers; zwitterionic compounds; organic salts; compounds containing multiple basic groups; compounds containing multiple acidic groups; bile salts; water soluble dyes; polar or ionic polymers; and polar or ionic dendrimers.
- 6. A method of preparing water soluble particles comprising a coprecipitant core with a dehydrated biological macromolecule coated thereon comprising the steps of:
a) preparing an aqueous solution comprising a coprecipitant and a biological macromolecule; b) rapidly admixing the biological macromolecule/coprecipitant solution with an excess of a water miscible organic solvent such that the coprecipitant and bioactive molecule immediately coprecipitate from solution forming said particles; and c) isolating said particles from the organic solvent.
- 7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the aqueous solution comprising the coprecipitant and the biological macromolecule is prepared by dissolving the coprecipitant in an aqueous solution comprising the biological macromolecule.
- 8. The method according to either of claims 6 or 7 wherein the biological macromolecule/coprecipitant solution is added to the water miscible organic solvent.
- 9. The method according to claim 6 wherein the coprecipitant:biological macromolecule molar ratio is greater than 50.
- 10. The method according to claim 6 wherein the coprecipitant is selected from
inorganic salts; sugars, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, polyols, and derivatives thereof, for example trehalose, with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 Da; amino-acids; acid-base buffers; zwitterionic compounds; organic salts; compounds containing multiple basic groups; compounds containing multiple acidic groups; bile salts; water soluble dyes; polar or ionic polymers; and polar or ionic dendrimers.
- 11. The method according to claim 6 wherein the organic solvent is selected from methanol, ethanol, propanol, acetonitrile tetrahydrofuran and acetone.
- 12. Particles obtainable by the process according to claim 6.
- 13. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising particles according to claims 1 or 12 and a suitable carrier therefore.
- 14. A medical device comprising particles according to claims 1 or 12 associated therewith.
- 15. Particles according to claims 1 or 12 for use in therapy.
- 16. A biocatalyst preparation comprising particles according to claims 1 or 12 associated therewith.
- 17. A cleansing agent comprising enzyme coated particles according to claims 1 or 12.
- 18. A protective or antifouling agent comprising particles according to claims 1 or 12 in association with paint, varnish, coatings or films.
- 19. Films, polymers, inks, coatings, electrodes and optical materials for diagnostic kits or biosensor applications, comprising particles according to claims 1 or 12.
- 20. A method for studying molecular recognition, molecular binding, molecular imprinting or inhibitor binding in non-aqueous media, comprising using particles according to claims 1 or 12.
- 21. A method for studying macromolecule structure and/or organisation by scanning probe microscopy, comprising using particles according to claims 1 or 12.
- 22. A method of isolating a biological macromolecule from an aqueous solution, comprising the steps of:
a) preparing an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of a coprecipitant and biological macromolecule to be isolated; and b) admixing the biological macromolecule/coprecipitant solution with an excess of a water miscible organic solvent such that the coprecipitant and biological macromolecule immediately coprecipitate from solution, with rapid simultaneous dehydration of the biological macromolecule.
- 23. Water soluble particles of less than 50 μm comprising a coprecipitant core with a dehydrated biological macromolecule coated thereon obtainable by:
a) preparing an aqueous solution comprising a coprecipitant and biological macromolecule; and b) admixing the biological macromolecule/coprecipitant solution with an excess of a water miscible organic solvent such that the coprecipitant and biological macromolecule immediately coprecipitate from solution forming said particles; and c) isolating said particles from the organic solvent.
- 24. Biological macromolecule coated micro-crystals comprising a coprecipitant core with a dehydrated biological macromolecule coated thereon wherein the coprecipitant is selected from inorganic salts,
sugars, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, polyols, and derivatives thereof, for example trehalose, with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 Da; amino-acids such as glycine and arginine; acid-base buffers; zwitterionic compounds; organic salts; compounds containing multiple basic groups; compounds containing multiple acidic groups; bile salts; water soluble dyes; polar or ionic polymers; and polar or ionic dendrimers.
- 25. A pharmaceutical formulation comprising biological macromolecule coated micro-crystals comprising a coprecipitant cover with a dehydrated pharmaceutically active biological macromolecule coated thereon wherein the coprecipitant is selected from inorganic salts,
sugars, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, polyols, and derivatives thereof, for example trehalose, with a molecular weight of less than 10,000 Da; amino-acids such as glycine and arginine; acid-base buffers; zwitterionic compounds; organic salts; compounds containing multiple basic groups; compounds containing multiple acidic groups; bile salts; water soluble dyes; polar or ionic polymers; and polar or ionic dendrimers; and a suitable carrier therefore.
- 26. An inhalable pharmaceutical formulation comprising biological macromolecule coated micro-crystals comprising a coprecipitant core with a dehydrated pharmaceutically active biological macromolecule coated thereon.
- 27. Water soluble particles of less than 50 μm comprising a coprecipitant partially, substantially or crystalline core with a dehydrated biological macromolecule coated thereon.
- 28. Water soluble particles comprising a coprecipitant core with a dehydrated biological macromolecule coated thereon, wherein the coprecipitant is selected from ionic salts, amino acids, zwitterionic compounds, organic salts, sugars and polysaccharides of a molecular weight of less than 10,000 Da.
- 29. Water soluble particles according to claim 28 wherein the coprecipitant has a molecular weight of less than 1,000 Da.
- 30. Water soluble particles comprising a coprecipitant core coated with a dehydrated biological macromolecule wherein the coprecipitant has a melting point at atmospheric pressure greater than 95° C.
- 31. A liquid suspension comprising water soluble particles comprising a coprecipitant core coated with a biological macromolecule.
- 32. A method of purifying a biological macromolecule from additives or impurities comprising:
a) dissolving a coprecipitant in an aqueous solution comprising the biological macromolecule and additive or impurity; b) admixing the biological macromolecule/coprecipitant solution with an excess of a water miscible organic solvent or solvents, in which the additive or impurity is soluble, such that the coprecipitant and biological macromolecule immediately coprecipitate from solution forming a biological macromolecule coated particle comprising a core of coprecipitant; c) rinsing said particles with fresh water-miscible organic solvent; and d) isolating said particles.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
GB9910975.3 |
May 1999 |
GB |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/GB00/01854, filed May 15, 2000, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/GB00/01854 |
May 2000 |
US |
Child |
10007257 |
Nov 2001 |
US |