Enzyme containing composition, process of producing said composition and its use

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one biologically active protease and at least one biologically active glycosidase wherein the proteases and the glycosidases are present in an activity ratio of from 1,000,000:1 to 1:1,000,000 and wherein the composition has a total enzyme activity of at least 2 U/ml. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process of producing such an enzyme comprising composition and to processes of removing caries. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of one or more enzyme comprising compositions for producing a treatment agent for removing caries.

1 . A composition comprising: 
 at least one biologically active protease;    at least one biologically active glycosidase, and    at least one buffer,    wherein the proteases and the glycosidases are present in an activity ratio of 1,000,000:1 to 1:1,000,000, and    wherein the total enzyme activity is at least 2 U/ml.    
     
     
         2 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protease is selected from the group consisting of proteinase K, collagenase, pronase, and a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one glycosidase is selected from the group consisting of a lysozyme type, an α-amlyase type, a dextranase type, and a mixture of two or more thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises at least two types of proteases and at least one type of glycosidases.  
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises proteinase K, collagenase, lysozyme, and dextransase.  
     
     
         6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises at least one solvent.  
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises at least one polar solvent.  
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises at least one buffer in a concentration of from about 0.001 to about 10 mol/l.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises at least one phosphate buffer.  
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises one or more adjuvants selected from the group consisting of: 
 i. complexing agents,    ii. enzyme substrates,    iii. enzyme effectors,    iv. thickening agents,    v. preservative agents, and    vi. stabilizing agents.    
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one protease or glycosidase has an enzyme activity in a pH range of from 1 to 10.  
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one protease or glycosidase has an enzyme activity in a pH range of from 5 to 8.  
     
     
         13 . A process of producing a composition according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one biologically active protease and at least one biologically active glycosidase are mixed so that the proteases and glycosidases are present in an activity ratio of from 1,000,000:1 to 1:1,000,000 and the total enzyme activity is at least 2 U/ml.  
     
     
         14 . A kit comprising at least two enzymes, said enzymes being miscible for obtaining a composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A kit according to  claim 14 , wherein said kit further comprises a separated solvent.  
     
     
         16 . A kit comprising: at least one composition according to  claim 1;  and at least one treatment solution, said treatment solution comprising at least one protease having its proteolytic catalytic action optimum in the acidic pH range of below 4.  
     
     
         17 . A method for producing a treatment agent for removing caries, the method comprising using a composition according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         18 . A composition with a pH value of 4.0 or less, comprising water, acid, pepsin, and a rheological additive, wherein the pepsin is present at a concentration of 1 to 50,000 U/mg and the composition has a viscosity of 10 to 1000 mPas.  
     
     
         19 . A composition according to  claim 18 , further comprising, a polyether glycol, a zwitterionic tenside, or a mixture of polyether and zwitterionic tensides.  
     
     
         20 . A composition according to  claim 18 , wherein the composition further comprises an inhibitor.  
     
     
         21 . A composition comprising two components A and B, wherein component A comprises water; a buffer system providing for a pH value above the pH value at which pepsin is most active; and a rheological additive; and 
 wherein component B comprises water; an acid providing for a pH value of less than the pH value at which pepsin is most active; a thickener; and a polyether, a zwitterionic tenside, or a mixture of polyethers and zwitterionic ten sides.    
     
     
         22 . A composition according to  claim 21 , wherein component A has a pepsin activity of less than 50,000 U/ml.  
     
     
         23 . A composition according to  claim 21 , wherein component A comprises less than 20 mg pepsin/ml.  
     
     
         24 . A composition according to  claim 21 , wherein component A comprises a phosphate buffer at a pH value of 5 to 6.  
     
     
         25 . A composition according to  claim 21 , wherein component B comprises phosphoric acid at a pH value of 1.5 to 4.0.  
     
     
         26 . A composition according to  claim 21 , wherein component A comprises a polysaccharide as a thickener.  
     
     
         27 . A composition according to  claim 21 , wherein component B comprises a polyethyleneglycol, a betain, or both.  
     
     
         28 . A composition according to  claim 21 , wherein component B further comprises a rheological additive.  
     
     
         29 . A method for producing a treatment agent for removing caries, the method comprising using an enzyme that is proteolytically active in the pH range below 7.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the enzyme has its catalytic action optimum at a pH value of 4 at most.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein the enzyme is pepsin.  
     
     
         32 . A method for producing a treatment for removing caries, the method comprising using glycosidase.  
     
     
         33 . A multi chamber device for storing and dispensing liquids comprising: 
 at least one chamber comprising a component A: and    at least one chamber comprising a component B,    wherein component A comprises water; a buffer system providing for a pH value above the pH value at which pepsin is most active; and a rheological additive; and    wherein component B comprises water; an acid providing for a pH value of less than the pH value at which pepsin is most active; a rheological additive; and a polyether, a zwitterionic tenside, or a mixture of polyethers and zwitterionic tensides.