# US 2008/0187981 A1 · Thermo-stable bio-matrix > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187981 A1 - Document ID: US20080187981A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/021,166 - Filed: 2008-01-28 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2000-08-22 - Assignees: AgResearch Limited - Inventors: Von Walter Johnson; Joan Frances Pearson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187981A1 ## CPC - A61K 47/36: Polysaccharides; Derivatives thereof, e.g. gums, starch, alginate, dextrin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, inulin, agar or pectin - A01N 63/20: Bacteria; Substances produced thereby or obtained therefrom - A01N 63/27: Pseudomonas - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ## Abstract A method for producing a thermo-stable biodegradable medium for storage of biological materials is disclosed. The method includes the preparation of a bio polymer as a matrix for biological materials. The biological material can be selected from a wide range which includes cellular organisms and micro-organisms. The medium can be used for medium to long term storage of material at room temperature with a half life of 50% for up to 6 months. The medium is water soluble and can be used as a fertilizer, spray or an inoculant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of stabilizing a bacteria composition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting at least one powdered bio-polymer from the group consisting of: xanthan gum, acacia gum, guar gum, gellan, locust bean gum, and a combination thereof; (b) selecting a bacteria; (c) preparing a concentrate of the bacteria of between 10% and 100% (by weight), said concentrate being in an aqueous state; (d) combining the biopolymer of step (a) with the concentrate of step (c) at a ratio of approximately 1:10 to 10:1 to form a second mix; (e) incubating said second mix at a temperature of 5° C. to 30° C.; (f) adding a bio-degradable non-toxic oil to the mixture of step (e) to form a second mixture, the concentration of oil being in the range 0.1 to 10% by weight of the second mixture; and (g) agitating the second mixture at a temperature of between 5° C. and 40° C. to form a homogeneous suspension wherein a gel matrix is formed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein combining in step (d) occurs at a temperature between 5° C. and 40° C. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein mixing in step (d) occurs at a temperature between 10° C. and 25° C. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: (h) applying said gel matrix to a substrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said applying step comprises the steps of: adding said gel matrix to water and mixing to release the microorganism; and soaking said substrate in said solution to allow the microorganism to coat the substrate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said substrate is dried at a temperature of 5° C. to 30° C. after said soaking step. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein said applying step further comprises the step of: before adding said gel matrix to water, adding a powdered compound to said gel matrix, said powdered compound being selected from the group consisting of: a second microorganism, a dried and powdered granule composition, a dried and powdered bio-polymer matrix containing least a second microorganism, a chemical, and a combination of these. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said substrate is selected from: an agricultural crop, a horticultural crop, a forestry crop, the outer layer of an animal, an uncultivated surface, and a combination thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said bacteria is between 10% to 20% by weight in the concentrate of step (c). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the second mix is allowed to stand at room temperature for approximately 15 to 60 minutes during incubation step (e). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the oil used in step (f) is selected from the group consisting of: a monounsaturated oil, a refined oil, a non-refined oil; and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the oil used in step (f) is selected from the group consisting of: olive oil, canola oil, sunflower seed oil, hydrolyzed oils, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the cell concentration of the bacteria in the broth is in the range 105 cells to 1012 cells g−1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the cell concentration of the bacteria in the broth is in the range 108 cells to 1012 cells g−1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the cell concentration of the bacteria in the broth is in the range 109 cells to 1010 cells g−1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the bacteria in the concentrate of step (c) is in a state selected from a broth or a suspension. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bio-polymer is xanthan gum. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the bio-polymer is a mixture of xanthan and acacia gum which are added in a ratio in the range of 1:2 to 1:6 by weight. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the bio-polymer is a mixture of xanthan and guar gum. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the bio-polymer is a mixture of xanthan and locust bean gum. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the bio-polymer is a mixture of xanthan, guar and locust bean gum. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein more than one bio-polymer and more than one bacteria is present in the steps (a) to (g). ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises the steps of (a) to (c) with at least one first bio-polymer; the steps of (a) to (c) with at least one second bio-polymer; and mixing of these two mixtures by steps (d) through (g). ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein storage of the composition is at a stability of better than LT50 with respect to the cell concentration for the length of time of storage. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein the temperature range of storage is 5° C. to 40° C. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein the temperature range of storage is 10° C. to 25° C. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein storage of the composition is at a stability of less than one log loss in cell concentration over a time period of at least one month. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the temperature range of storage is 5° C. to 40° C. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 wherein the temperature range of storage is 10° C. to 25° C. ### Claim 30 A method of stabilizing a bacteria composition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting at least one powdered gum selected bio-polymer from the group consisting of: xanthan gum, acacia gum, guar gum, gellan, locust bean gum, and a combination thereof; (b) selecting a bacteria; (c) preparing a concentrate of the bacteria of between 10% and 100% (by weight), said concentrate being in an aqueous state; (d) combining the biopolymer of step (a) with the concentrate of step (c) at a temperature of between 5° C. and 40° C. and at a ratio of approximately 1:1 to form a gel matrix. ### Claim 31 A method of stabilizing a bacteria composition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting at least one powdered bio-polymer from the group consisting of: xanthan gum, acacia gum, guar gum, gellan, locust bean gum, and a combination thereof; (b) selecting a bacteria; (c) preparing a concentrate of the bacteria of between 10% and 100% (by weight), said concentrate being in an aqueous state; (d) combining the biopolymer of step (a) with the concentrate of step (c) at a ratio of 1:10 to 10:1 to form a second mix; (e) agitating the second mixture at a temperature of between 5° C. and 40° C. to form a homogeneous suspension wherein a gel matrix is formed. ### Claim 32 A method of stabilizing a bacteria composition, said method comprising the steps of: (a) selecting at least one powdered bio-polymer from the group consisting of: xanthan gum, acacia gum, guar gum, gellan, locust bean gum, and a combination thereof; (b) selecting a bacteria; (c) preparing a concentrate of the bacteria of between 10% and 100% (by weight), said concentrate being in an aqueous state; (d) combining the biopolymer of step (a) with the concentrate of step (c) at a ratio of approximately 1:1 to form a second mix; (e) incubating said second mix at a temperature of 5° C. to 30° C.; (f) adding a bio-degradable non-toxic oil to the mixture of step (e) to form a second mixture, the concentration of oil being in the range 0.1 to 10% by weight of the second mixture; and (g) agitating the second mixture at a temperature of between 5° C. and 40° C. to form a homogeneous suspension wherein a gel matrix is formed.