COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR STABILIZATION OF ACTIVE AGENTS
Provided herein are methods and compositions for stabilization of active agents. The active agents are distributed, mixed or embedded in a silk fibroin matrix, thereby retaining the bioactivity of the active agents upon storage and/or transportation. In some embodiments, the storage-stable vaccine-silk compositions are also provided herein.
1 - 238 . (canceled)
239 . A storage-stable composition comprising a silk fibroin matrix and a live, attenuated flavivirus immunogen distributed therein, wherein the immunogen retains at least 30% of its original bioactivity after the composition is maintained at 4° C. for 4 weeks.
240 . The storage-stable composition of claim 239 further comprising a saccharide or sugar alcohol distributed in the silk fibroin matrix.
241 . The storage-stable composition of claim 240 where the saccharide or sugar alcohol is chosen from sucrose, trehalose, sorbitol, and mannitol.
242 . The storage-stable composition of claim 239 further comprising a stabilizing agent chosen from albumin and gelatin distributed in the silk fibroin matrix.
243 . The storage-stable composition of claim 239 where the live, attenuated flavivirus is yellow fever virus.
244 . The storage-stable composition of claim 239 where the silk fibroin matrix is a solution.
245 . The storage-stable composition of claim 239 where the silk fibroin matrix is in a solid state.
246 . The storage-stable composition of claim 239 where the silk fibroin matrix is a film.