Method for inhibiting chymopapain and papain enzyme activity with polysaccharides of animal origin

A process for isolating viable hepatocytes or pancreatic islet cells from tissue containing viable hepatocytes or pancreatic islet cells, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing an enzyme composition comprising an aqueous solution of an enzyme selected from the group consisting of chymopapain, papain, and mixtures thereof, said enzyme having an activity of about 0.15 nkat/ml to about 0.55 nkat/ml, in a physiologically compatible electrolyte solution buffered to a pH of about 7.0 to 7.4;
• contacting tissue containing viable hepatocytes or pancreatic islet cells with said enzyme for a length of time and at a temperature sufficient to hydrolyze said tissue;
• isolating viable hepatocytes or pancreatic islet cells from the hydrolyzed tissue;
• and
• adding a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of glycogen, desulfated heparin, and hyaluronic acid to a medium containing the isolated viable hepatocytes or pancreatic islet cells, said polysaccharide being added in a concentration sufficient to inhibit the enzymatic action of said chymopapain or papain or mixture of chymopapain and papain;
• thereby improving the yield of viable hepatocytes or pancreatic islet cells and enhancing the cell activity thereof.

A process for removing undesirable tissue from normal tissue, comprising the steps of:

• providing an enzyme composition comprising an aqueous solution of an enzyme selected from the group consisting of chymopapain, papain, and mixtures thereof, in a physiologically compatible electrolyte solution buffered to a pH of about 7.0 to 7.4;
• contacting tissue containing undesirable tissue in contact with normal tissue with said enzyme composition for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to hydrolyze said undesirable tissue;
• removing hydrolyzed undesirable tissue from said normal tissue;
• and
• rinsing the normal tissue from which the undesirable tissue has been removed with a solution containing a polysaccharide selected form the group consisting of glycogen, desulfated heparin, and hyaluronic acid, said polysaccharide being present in a concentration sufficient to inhibit the enzymatic action of said chymopapain or papain or mixture of chymopapain and papain.