Lyophilization of cells

• US 5,648,206 A
• Filed: 03/29/1995
• Issued: 07/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: COBE Laboratories Incorporated (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: COBE Laboratories Incorporated (Terumo Corporation)
• Inventors: Goodrich, Raymond P. Jr., Williams, Christine M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kight, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEARY, LOUISE N
• Application Number:
  US08/412,305
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 435/2, 435/240.54, 435/529, 435/533, 435/534, 435/240.2, 435/1.3
• US Class Current: 435/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/02 Preservation of living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0205 Chemical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 1/0221 Freeze-process protecting agents, i.e. substances protecting cells from effects of the physical process, e.g. cryoprotectants, osmolarity regulators like oncotic agents

Abstract

A process and medium are disclosed for the lyophilization of cells which comprises the use of solutions including monosaccharide hexoses and pentoses, and/or biocompatible amphipathic polymers to permit the reconstitution of viable cells.

Claims

1. A medium for the lyophilization of cells, comprising:

a monosaccharide which is present in the solution in a concentration of from about 7.0 to 37.5%, and

a polymer having a molecular weight of from about 1K to about 360K which is present in a concentration of from about 0.7%.

2. A medium according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is amphipathic.

3. A medium according to claim 1 wherein said polymer has a molecular weight in the range of about 5K to about 80K.

4. The medium of claim 1 wherein the monosaccharide is selected from the group consisting of pentoses and hexoses.

5. The medium of claim 4 wherein the monosaccharide is selected from the group consisting of xylose, glucose, ribose, mannose and fructose.

6. The medium of claim 1 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone and dextran.

7. The medium of claim 1 wherein the polymer is polyvinylpyrrolidone.