Method of protecting biological materials from destructive reactions in the dry state
AssigneeBoyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, Inc.
InventorsScott H. Wettlaufer, Aldo C. Leopold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is provided for protection of biological materials from the stresses of air-drying and also from destructive reactions, such as oxidation and free-radical attack, which degrade the materials during long-term storage. The method involves drying the materials, which may contain potentially destructive agents such as free-radical generators or reducing sugars, in the presence of a vitrifying substance, and under conditions which allow the protective substance to become vitrified.
Claims42
A method of protecting biological materials selected from the group consisting of tissues, cells, organelles, and biologically active compounds from drying and from destructive reactions which take place during storage, comprising the steps of:
- (a) selecting a mixture comprising materials from the group consisting of tissues, cells, organelles, and biologically active compounds;
- (b) combining said mixture with sufficient quantity of one or more vitrifying solutes to protect said mixture during drying and to inhibit said destructive reactions,
- (c) drying said combination, by exposing said combination to a desiccant, at a temperature above that at which said combination will freeze and below that at which said vitrifying solutes achieve the vitrified state, at approximately normal atmospheric pressure, until said combination is substantially dry, and
- (d) storing said combination in a dry state.
A composition produced by a method of preparing materials to be stored in a dry state comprising the steps of:
- a. selecting a mixture comprising materials from the group consisting of tissues, cells, organelles, and biologically active compounds,
- b. combining said mixture with sufficient quantity of one or more vitrifying solutes to protect said mixture during drying and to inhibit said destructive reactions, and
- c. drying said combination, by exposing said combination to a desiccant, at a temperature above that at which said combination will freeze and below that at which said vitrifying solutes achieve the vitrified state, at approximately normal atmospheric pressure, until said combination is substantially dry.
A composition of protected biological materials in the dry state, comprising a combination of biological materials selected from the group consisting of tissues, cells, organelles, and biologically active compounds, and one or more vitrified solutes, wherein said vitrified solutes are present in sufficient quantity to protect said biological materials from destructive reactions which render said materials less biochemically active over time.
A composition comprising the parts of:
- a. one or more vitrifying solutes capable of protecting tissues, cells, and biologically active compounds during drying and from destructive reactions which take place during storage of said tissues, cells, and biologically active compounds, and
- b. a desiccant, used to dry said vitrifying solutes and said tissues, cells, and biologically active compounds at a temperature above that at which said vitrifying solutes and said tissues, cells, and biologically active compounds will freeze and below that at which said vitrifying solutes achieve the vitrified state, at approximately normal atmospheric pressure, until said vitrified solutes and said tissues, cells, and biologically active compounds are substantially dry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.