Title: Encapsulation of biomaterials in porous glass-like matrices prepared via an aqueous colloidal sol-gel process

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for the encapsulation of biologically important proteins into transparent, porous silica matrices by an alcohol-free, aqueous, colloidal sol-gel process, and to the biological materials encapsulated thereby. The process is exemplified by studies involving encapsulated cytochrome c, catalase, myoglobin, and hemoglobin, although non-proteinaceous biomaterials, such as active DNA or RNA fragments, cells or even tissues, may also be encapsulated in accordance with the present methods. Conformation, and hence activity of the biomaterial, is successfully retained after encapsulation as demonstrated by optical characterization of the molecules, even after long-term storage. The retained conformation of the biomaterial is strongly correlated to both the rate of gelation and the subsequent drying speed of the encapsulatng matrix. Moreover, in accordance with this process, gelation is accelerated by the use of a higher colloidal solid concentration and a lower synthesis pH than conventional methods, thereby enhancing structural stability and retained conformation of the biomaterials. Thus, the invention also provides a remarkable improvement in retaining the biological activity of the encapsulated biomaterial, as compared with those involved in conventional alkoxide-based processes. It further provides new methods for the quantitative and qualitative detection of test substances that are reactive to, or catalyzedmore » by, the active, encapsulated biological materials. « less

Inventors:

Liu, Dean-Mo ^[1]; Chen, I-Wei ^[2]

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1. Richmond, CA
2. Swarthmore, PA

Issue Date:

Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2001

Research Org.:

Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (United States)

OSTI Identifier:

874055

Patent Number(s):

6303290

Assignee:

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12N - MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

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C - CHEMISTRY C12 - BIOCHEMISTRY C12N - MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES

C12N1/04 - Preserving or maintaining viable microorganisms
C12N11/14 - Enzymes or microbial cells immobilised on or in an inorganic carrier

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

G01N33/552 - Glass or silica

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DOE Contract Number:  

FG02-97ER45637

Resource Type:

Patent

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

encapsulation; biomaterials; porous; glass-like; matrices; prepared; via; aqueous; colloidal; sol-gel; process; provides; biologically; proteins; transparent; silica; alcohol-free; biological; materials; encapsulated; exemplified; studies; involving; cytochrome; catalase; myoglobin; hemoglobin; non-proteinaceous; active; dna; rna; fragments; cells; tissues; methods; conformation; hence; activity; biomaterial; successfully; retained; demonstrated; optical; characterization; molecules; long-term; storage; strongly; correlated; rate; gelation; subsequent; drying; speed; encapsulatng; matrix; moreover; accelerated; solid; concentration; synthesis; ph; conventional; enhancing; structural; stability; remarkable; improvement; retaining; compared; involved; alkoxide-based; processes; quantitative; qualitative; detection; substances; reactive; catalyzed; conventional methods; long-term storage; sol-gel process; porous silica; porous glass; /435/436/