Dry storage stabilizing composition for biological materials

Abstract

The present invention includes compositions and drying methods for preserving sensitive bioactive materials, such as peptides, proteins, hormones, nucleic acids, antibodies, drugs vaccines, yeast, bacteria (probiotic or otherwise), viruses and/or cell suspensions, in storage. The compositions include a carbohydrates component and a glass enhancer component, wherein the carbohydrate component includes a mixture of di-, oligo- and polysaccharides and the glass enhancer includes ions of organic acid and protein hydrolysates. The composition is prepared by dispersing all the solid components in a solution and then snap-frozen to form small beads, strings or droplets. The preferred drying method of the frozen beads, strings or droplets is initiated by a short purging and structure stabilizing step of the frozen particles under a vacuum pressure of less than <2000 mTORR followed by a primary drying step under vacuum pressure of more than >2000 mTORR and at a desired temperature. During the secondary and final drying step of the material a full vacuum pressure and elevated temperature are applied, to achieve a final desirable water activity of the dry material.