Method for stably incorporating substances within dry, foamed glass matrices
View Patent ↗The invention provides methods for producing foamed glass and the compositions obtained thereby. The compositions are suitable for stable storage of a wide variety of substances, particularly biological and pharmaceutical.
1. A method for producing foamed glass matrices (FGMs) containing a biologically active agent, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, a prophylactic agent, a pharmaceutically effective substance and a diagnostic reagent, and an organic solvent(s) for the glass matrix-forming material;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent.
2. A method for producing foamed glass matrices (FGMs) containing a biologically active agent, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, a prophylactic agent, a pharmaceutically effective substance and a diagnostic reagent, and a solvent(s) for the glass matrix-forming material, wherein the solvent(s) is a combination of aqueous and organic liquids;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent.
3. A method for producing foamed glass matrices (FGMs) containing a biologically active agent, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, a prophylactic agent, a pharmaceutically effective substance and a diagnostic reagent, and solvent(s) for the class matrix-forming material;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent;
wherein the method further comprises the step of adding at least one volatile salt to the mixture before step (c).
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the volatile salt is selected from the group consisting of ammonium acetate, ammonium bicarbonate, and ammonium carbonate.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the volatile salt is present in an amount from about 0.01 to 5 M.
6. A method for producing foamed glass matrices (FGMs) containing a biologically active agent, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, a prophylactic agent, a pharmaceutically effective substance and a diagnostic reagent, and solvent(s) for the glass matrix-forming material;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent;
wherein the method further comprises the step of adding at least one salt that decomposes under less than atmospheric pressure to give a gaseous product to the mixture before step (c).
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the decomposing salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate and sodium metabisulphite.
8. A method for producing foamed glass matrices (FGMs) containing a biologically active agent, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, a prophylactic agent, a pharmaceutically effective substance and a diagnostic reagent, and solvent(s) for the glass matrix-forming material;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent;
wherein the method further comprises the step of adding at least one volatile organic liquid to the mixture before step (c).
9. A method for producing foamed glass matrices (FGMs) containing a biologically active agent, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, a prophylactic agent, a pharmaceutically effective substance and a diagnostic reagent, and solvent(s) for the glass matrix-forming material;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent;
wherein the method further comprises the step of adding at least one additive to the mixture before step (c), wherein the additive is a foam stabilizing agent, wherein the foam stablization agent is a viscosity modifier, and wherein the viscosity modifier is a guar gum.
10. A method for producing foamed glass matrices (FGMs) containing a biologically active agent, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, a prophylactic agent, a pharmaceutically effective substance and a diagnostic reagent, and solvent(s) for the glass matrix-forming material;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent;
wherein the method further comprises the step of adding at least one additive to the mixture before step (c), wherein the additive is a foam stabilizing agent, and wherein the foam stabilization agent is a surface-active amphipathic molecule.
11. A method for producing foamed glass matrices (FGMs) containing a biologically active agent, comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, a prophylactic agent, a pharmaceutically effective substance and a diagnostic reagent, and solvent(s) for the glass matrix-forming material;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent;
wherein the method further comprises the step of adding at least additive that is an inhibitor of the Maillard reaction to the mixture before step (c).
12. A method for preserving a biologically active agent within a foamed glass matrix (FGM) comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent to be preserved and solvent(s) for the class matrix-forming material;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent;
wherein the biologically active agent to be preserved is a vaccine; and
wherein the vaccine comprises Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, measles virus, or oral polio virus.
13. A method for preserving a biologically active agent within a foamed glass matrix (FGM) comprising the steps of:
(a) preparing an initial mixture comprising at least one glass matrix-forming material containing a biologically active agent to be preserved selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic agent, a prophylactic agent, a pharmaceutically effective substance and a diagnostic reagent and solvent(s) for the glass matrix-forming material;
(b) evaporating a portion of the solvent(s) from the mixture to obtain a syrup;
(c) boiling the syrup under less than atmospheric pressure to produce foaming of the syrup; and
(d) continuing step (c) until the boiling results in the formation of a solid foam and produces a foamed glass matrix containing the biologically active agent;
wherein the biologically active agent to be preserved is dissolved in the mixture.