Stabilizing composition for immobilized biomolecules

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of a composition comprising (a) at least three different amino acids, (b) at least two different amino acids and a saponin or (c) at least one dipeptide or tripeptide for stabilizing biomolecules immobilized on a solid carrier. The invention furthermore relates to a method for producing stabilized biomolecules, comprising embedding the biomolecules in the compositions according to the invention and a method of producing a solid carrier having biomolecules attached thereto. The invention furthermore relates to a solid carrier producible or produced by the method of the invention and a method of diagnosing a disease using the carrier of the invention.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for producing stabilized biomolecules, comprising
 (a) attaching the biomolecules to a solid carrier, and   (b) embedding the biomolecules in a stabilizing composition selected from the groups consisting of:
 (i) at least three different amino acids, 
 (ii) at least two different amino acids and a saponin, and/or 
 (iii) at least one dipeptide or tripeptide, 
   wherein the solid carrier is the stabilizing composition.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stabilizing composition comprises at least one amino acid of each group of:
 (A) an amino acid with non-polar, aliphatic R groups;   (B) an amino acid with polar, uncharged R groups;   (C) an amino acid with positively charged R groups;   (D) an amino acid with negatively charged R groups; and   (E) an amino acids with aromatic R groups.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the amino acids comprised in the stabilizing composition are selected from:
 (A) alanine, glutamate, lysine, threonine and tryptophan;   (B) aspartate, arginine, phenylalanine, serine and valine;   (C) proline, serine, asparagine, aspartate, threonine, phenylalanine;   (D) tyrosine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, valine; and   (E) arginine, glycine, histidine, alanine, glutamate, lysine, tryptophan.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the biomolecules are reversibly attached on said solid carrier. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein stabilizing biomolecules includes stabilizing the structure and/or activity of biomolecules, enhancing the shelf-life of biomolecules and/or protecting biomolecules against stress-mediated damage. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stabilizing composition comprises at least 4 or at least 5 different amino acids. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stabilizing composition comprises less than 1% by dry weight cysteine within the mixture of at least two or at least three amino acids. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stabilizing composition further comprises less than 1%, more preferably less than 0.3% Tween, preferably Tween 80. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the saponine is glycyrrhizic acid or a derivative thereof. 
     
     
         30 . A method of producing a solid carrier having biomolecules attached thereto, comprising the steps of
 (a) attaching the biomolecules to the solid carrier which is a stabilizing composition,   (b) incubating the carrier of step (a) in said stabilizing composition selected from the groups consisting of:
 (i) at least three different amino acids, 
 (ii) at least two different amino acids and a saponin, and/or 
 (iii) at least one dipeptide or tripeptide. 
   
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 21  or  30 , further comprising
 (c) subjecting the solid carrier to drying. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 21  or  30  further comprising sterilizing the solid carrier after step (b). 
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 32 , wherein the sterilization of the carrier is effected by ethyleneoxide, beta radiation, gamma radiation, X-ray, heat inactivation, autoclaving or plasma sterilization. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21  or  22 , wherein the biomolecules are partially or completely covered by the composition. 
     
     
         35 . A solid carrier produced by the method of  claim 21 . 
     
     
         36 . The solid carrier of  claim 35 , wherein the biomolecules are proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, fatty acids, polyalcohols and combinations or modifications thereof, wherein the proteins are antibodies, enzymes, receptors, cytokines, hormones, membrane proteins, growth factors, albumins, globulins, transport proteins or blood coagulation factors. 
     
     
         37 . The solid carrier of  claim 35 , wherein the biomolecules specifically bind to a marker protein indicative for a disease, a non-cellular pathogen, a cell or a toxin. 
     
     
         38 . A method of preparing a medical device comprising the solid carrier of  claim 35 . 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the medical device is an implant, a tubing, a catheter, a stent, a tubing, a wound dressing or a medical device used in extracorporeal circulation.