Compositions for solubilizing cells and/or tissue

Abstract

Solubilizing compositions are provided. The compositions comprise at least one zwitterionic surfactant and at least one nonionic surfactant. In one embodiment, the compositions may be useful for solubilizing and remodeling and/or removing tissue on or beneath a patient's skin, optionally in conjunction with the application of energy to a region of interest on the skin. In one embodiment at least one analyte may be collected and analyzed from the solubilized tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition, comprising:
 at least one zwitterionic surfactant, represented by the following structural formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 at least one non-ionic surfactant, represented by the following structural formula:
   H(CH 2 ) a O(CH 2 CH 2 O) b H, 
 
 
       wherein:
 n is 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18; 
 a is 12 or 16; and 
 b is 2, 4, 10, 20, or 23, 
 
       provided that n, a, and b are not respectively:
 10, 12, and 4; 
 14, 16, and 10; or 
 16, 12, and 23. 
 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein:
 n is 12, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 12, a is 16, and b is 10;   n is 14, a is 12, and b is 4;   n is 14, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 16, a is 12, and b is 4;   n is 16, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 16, a is 16, and b is 10;   n is 18, a is 12, and b is 4;   n is 18, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 18, a is 16, and b is 10; or   n is 18, a is 16, and b is 20.   
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a is 12 and b is 4;   a is 16 and b is 2; or   a is 16 and b is 10.   
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein n is 12, 14, 16, or 18. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein n is 14, 16, or 18. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein a+b−n is less than 21. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a pH more basic than about 7.0 in a buffer solution. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a pH of between about 7.0 and about 9.0 in a buffer solution. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer solution that dissolves the zwitterionic surfactant and the non-ionic surfactant, the zwitterionic surfactant and the non-ionic surfactant comprising a total concentration of about 0.01% to about 10% w/v in the buffer solution. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a buffer solution that dissolves the zwitterionic surfactant and the non-ionic surfactant, the zwitterionic surfactant and the non-ionic surfactant each being present in an amount of at least about 0.25% w/v with respect to the buffer solution. 
     
     
         11 . A method for solubilizing and remodeling and/or removing tissue on or beneath a patient's skin, the method comprising:
 applying energy to a region of interest on the skin; and   contacting the region with a tissue solubilizing composition, the tissue solubilizing composition comprising:   at least one zwitterionic surfactant, represented by the following structural formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 at least one non-ionic surfactant, represented by the following structural formula:
   H(CH 2 ) a O(CH 2 CH 2 O) b H, 
 
 
       wherein:
 n is 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18; 
 a is 12 or 16; and 
 b is 2, 4, 10, 20, or 23, 
 provided that n, a, and b are not respectively: 
 10, 12, and 4; or 
 14, 16, and 10. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 removing at least a portion of the solubilized region of interest to leave an exposed area on the skin; and   applying to the exposed area at least one of a therapeutic composition and a cosmetic composition.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the applying comprises applying to the exposed area a therapeutic composition comprising at least one of: a DNA-based drug, an RNA-based drug, a protein-based drug, a peptide-based drug, a lipid-based drug, a carbohydrate-based drug, a small molecule drug, a nanoparticle-based drug, and a liposome-encapsulated drug. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the applying comprises applying to the exposed area a cosmetic composition comprising at least one of: elastin, an elastin-based peptide, collagen, a collagen-based peptide, resveratrol, idebenone, co-enzyme Q10, acetyl hexapeptide-3, glycosaminoglycans, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, sodium hyaluronate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 n is 12, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 12, a is 16, and b is 10;   n is 14, a is 12, and b is 4;   n is 14, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 16, a is 12, and b is 4;   n is 16, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 16, a is 16, and b is 10;   n is 18, a is 12, and b is 4;   n is 18, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 18, a is 16, and b is 10; or   n is 18, a is 16, and b is 20.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a+b−n is less than 21. 
     
     
         17 . A method for recovering analytes from mucosal membrane, skin, or other tissue, the method comprising:
 applying energy to a region of interest on the mucosal membrane, skin, or other tissue containing at least one analyte;   contacting the region with a tissue solubilizing composition, thereby solubilizing at least some of the mucosal membrane, skin, or other tissue containing at least one analyte; and   collecting the at least one analyte from the solubilized mucosal membrane, skin, and other tissue,   wherein the tissue solubilizing composition comprises:   at least one zwitterionic surfactant, represented by the following structural formula:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 at least one non-ionic surfactant, represented by the following structural formula:
   H(CH 2 ) a O(CH 2 CH 2 O) b H. 
 
 
       wherein:
 n is 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18; 
 a is 12 or 16; and 
 b is 2, 4, 10, 20, or 23, 
 provided that n, a, and b are not respectively: 
 10, 12, and 4; or 
 14, 16, and 10. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the analyte comprises one or more of: a protein, a cancer biomarker, an antibody, a peptide, a lipid, a nucleic acid, a small molecule, a microbe, a warfare agent, an environmental contaminant, or a drug. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 n is 12, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 12, a is 16, and b is 10;   n is 14, a is 12, and b is 4;   n is 14, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 16, a is 12, and b is 4;   n is 16, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 16, a is 16, and b is 10;   n is 18, a is 12, and b is 4;   n is 18, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 18, a is 16, and b is 10; or   n is 18, a is 16, and b is 20.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a+b−n is less than 21.