Compositions for solubilizing cells and/or tissue

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.