Methods 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 method for one or more of solubilizing, remodeling, and removing a portion of tissue on or beneath a patient's skin, the method comprising:
 contacting a region of interest on the skin 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; and 
 
 
       applying energy to the region of interest on the skin effective to cause the one or more of: solubilizing, remodeling, and removing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing at least a portion of the 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.   
     
     
         3 . The method of claim  2 , at least one of:
 the 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; and   the 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.   
     
     
         4 . The method 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 12, a is 12, and b is 23;   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.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 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 16, a is 16, and b is 20;   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.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a+b−n is less than 21. 
     
     
         7 . The method 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.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein n is 12, 14, 16, or 18. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein n is 14, 16, or 18. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , the tissue solubilizing composition further comprising a buffer solution effective to buffer the tissue solubilizing composition to a pH value, the pH value being one or more of: more basic than about 7.0; between about 7.0 and about 9.0; between about 7.4 and about 9.0; between about 7.4 and about 8.0; and between about 7.2 and about 7.6. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , the tissue solubilizing composition further comprising a buffer solution, the tissue solubilizing composition characterized by a total percent (w/v) concentration of the zwitterionic surfactant and the non-ionic surfactant of one or more of: about 0.01% to about 10%; about 0.01% to about 5%; about 0.1% to about 2%; and about 0.1% to about 0.5%. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , the tissue solubilizing composition 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. 
     
     
         13 . 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. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the analyte comprising 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, and a drug. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 n is 12, a is 16, and b is 2;   n is 12, a is 16, and b is 10;   n is 12, a is 12, and b is 23;   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 13 , wherein:
 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 16, a is 16, and b is 20;   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.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , the tissue solubilizing composition further comprising a buffer solution effective to buffer the tissue solubilizing composition to a pH value, the pH value being one or more of: more basic than about 7.0; between about 7.0 and about 9.0; between about 7.4 and about 9.0; between about 7.4 and about 8.0; and between about 7.2 and about 7.6. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , the tissue solubilizing composition further comprising a buffer solution, the tissue solubilizing composition characterized by a total percent (w/v) concentration of the zwitterionic surfactant and the non-ionic surfactant of one or more of: about 0.01% to about 10%; about 0.01% to about 5%; about 0.1% to about 2%; and about 0.1% to about 0.5%. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , the tissue solubilizing composition 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. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a is 12 and b is 4;   a is 16 and b is 2; or   a is 16 and b is 10.