Method for preventing the unfolding of a (poly)peptide and/or inducing the (re-)folding of a (poly)peptide

A method for inhibiting the unfolding of a polypeptide during drying and/or inducing the refolding of a polypeptide after drying, comprising the steps of:

• (A) dissolving the polypeptide in an aqueous solution, wherein the solution comprises at least three different amino acids in an amount effective to inhibit the unfolding of a polypeptide during and/or inducing the refolding of a polypeptide after drying, wherein the at least three different amino acids are selected from at least three different groups of:
• (a) amino acids with nonpolar, aliphatic R groups selected from alanine or glycine;
• (b) an amino acid with a polar, uncharged R group which is threonine;
• (c) amino acids with positively charged R groups selected from arginine, histidine or lysine;
• (d) amino acids with negatively charged R groups selected from glutamate or aspartate;
• and
• (e) amino acids with aromatic R groups selected from tryptophan or histidine;
• and wherein the solution is free or substantially free of
• (1) sugar, protein and silanes;
• or
• (2) sugar, denaturing compounds and silanes;
• or
• (3) sugar, protein, denaturing compounds and silanes;
• and
• (B) drying the polypeptide,
• wherein step (A) is performed before or after step (B).