Industrial scale barrier technology for preservation of sensitive biological materials at ambient temperatures
AssigneeUniversal Preservation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsVictor Bronshtein, Kevin R. Bracken, Ronnie K. Livers, David R. Williams
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Abstract
This invention relates to barrier methods for preserving sensitive biological materials as a porous foam, subsequently crushing the foam to form a powder, and optionally formulating mixtures of preserved powdered biological materials. The invention also encompasses an apparatus for integrating the methods of foam formation and subsequent crushing of the preserved biological materials using barrier technology.
Claims47
A barrier method for preserving a biological solution or suspension as a powder, comprising:
- drying a volume of at least 1 ml of the biological solution or suspension in a chamber by boiling under vacuum at a temperature in a range of −15° to 70° C. to form a mechanically-stable foam;
- and
- crushing the mechanically-stable foam to form a powder.
A barrier method for preparing a powdered formulation of preserved biological materials, comprising:
- drying at least two solutions or suspensions containing a biological material by boiling under vacuum at a temperature less than 100° C. to form at least two mechanically-stable foams;
- crushing the mechanically-stable foams to form at least two powders;
- and
- mixing the powders containing the biological materials to form a powdered formulation, wherein the biological materials are barrier-protected against exposure to an outside environment throughout the drying, crushing and mixing steps.
An integrated apparatus for drying and crushing a biological solution or suspension, comprising a chamber having a heater and a cooler and a thermostat for regulating chamber temperature, and a vacuum pump and a pressure release valve for regulating chamber pressure, wherein the chamber temperature and pressure can be regulated to cause the biological solution or suspension to boil to form a mechanically-stable porous foam, and a means for crushing the mechanically-stable porous foam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.