US5290765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of protecting biological materials from destructive reactions in the dry state
Assignee: Boyce Thompson Institute
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Filing: 1992-02-11
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Granted: 1994-03-01
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Expires: 2012-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for protection of biological materials from the stresses of air-drying and also from destructive reactions, such as oxidation and free-radical attack, which degrade the materials during long-term storage. The method involves drying the materials, which may contain potentially destructive agents such as free-radical generators or reducing sugars, in the presence of a vitrifying substance, and under conditions which allow the protective substance to become vitrified.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott H. Wettlaufer
- 👤 Aldo C. Leopold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61K; A61K31/00; A61K31/70; A61K31/7004; A01; A01N; A01N1/00; A01N1/10; A01N1/12; A01N1/122; A01N1/125; A01N3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of protecting biological materials selected from the group consisting of tissues, cells, organelles, and biologically active compounds from drying and from destructive reactions which take place during storage, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a mixture including cells such as living rhizobia cells; (b) combining said mixture with sufficient quantity of one or more vitrifying solutes to protect said mixture during drying and to inhibit said destructive reactions, (c) drying said combination, by exposing said combination to a desiccant, at a temperature above that at which said combination will freeze and below that at which said vitrifying solutes achieve the vitrified state, at approximately normal atmospheric pressure, until said combination is substantially dry, and (d) storing said combination in a dry state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of protecting biological materials selected from the group consisting of tissues, cells, organelles, and biologically active compounds from drying and from destructive reactions which take place during storage, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a mixture including cells such as living rhizobia cells; (b) combining said mixture with sufficient quantity of one or more vitrifying solutes to protect said mixture during drying and to inhibit said destructive reactions, (c) drying said combination, by exposing said combination to a desiccant, at a temperature above that at which said combination will freeze and below that at which said vitrifying solutes achieve the vitrified state, at approximately normal atmospheric pressure, until said combination is substantially dry, and (d) storing said combination in a dry state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mixture further comprises one or more destructive substances which would, in the absence of a protective effect, initiate said destructive reactions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said destructive substances include a reducing sugar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said reducing sugar is glucose.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said destructive substances include a free-radical generating substance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said free-radical generating substance is riboflavin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said vitrifying solutes include at least one non-reducing sugar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said vitrifying solutes include at least one non-reducing sugar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said non-reducing sugars include sucrose.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said non-reducing sugars includes an oligosaccharide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said oligosaccharide is raffinose.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said sucrose and raffinose are in present in a 3:1 mass ratio.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said non-reducing sugars include raffinose.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
A composition produced by a method of preparing materials to be stored in a dry state comprising the steps of: a. selecting a mixture including cells such as living rhizobia cells, b. combining said mixture with sufficient quantity of one or more vitrifying solutes to protect said mixture during drying and to inhibit said destructive reactions, and c. drying said combination, by exposing said combination to a desiccant, at a temperature above that which said combination will freeze and below that at which said vitrifying solutes achieve the vitrified state, at approximately normal atmospheric pressure, until said combination is substantially dry.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
A composition produced by a method of preparing materials to be stored in a dry state comprising the steps of: a. selecting a mixture including cells such as living rhizobia cells, b. combining said mixture with sufficient quantity of one or more vitrifying solutes to protect said mixture during drying and to inhibit said destructive reactions, and c. drying said combination, by exposing said combination to a desiccant, at a temperature above that which said combination will freeze and below that at which said vitrifying solutes achieve the vitrified state, at approximately normal atmospheric pressure, until said combination is substantially dry.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A composition of protected biological materials in the dry state, comprising a combination of biological materials including cells such as living rhizobia cells, and one or more vitrified solutes, wherein said vitrified solutes are present in sufficient quantity to protect said biological materials from destructive reactions which render said materials less biochemically active over time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
A composition of protected biological materials in the dry state, comprising a combination of biological materials including cells such as living rhizobia cells, and one or more vitrified solutes, wherein said vitrified solutes are present in sufficient quantity to protect said biological materials from destructive reactions which render said materials less biochemically active over time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composition of claim 15, further comprising one or more destructive substances which would, in the absence of a protective effect, initiate said destructive reactions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The composition of claim 16, wherein said destructive substances include a reducing sugar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The composition of claim 17, wherein said reducing sugar is glucose.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composition of claim 16, wherein said destructive substances include a free-radical generating substance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The composition of claim 19, wherein said free-radical generating substance is riboflavin.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composition of claim 15, wherein said vitrified substances include at least one non-reducing sugar.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The composition of claim 21, wherein said non-reducing sugars include sucrose.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The composition of claim 22, wherein said non-reducing sugars includes an oligosaccharide.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
The composition of claim 23, wherein said oligosaccharide is raffinose.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composition of claim 24, wherein said sucrose and raffinose are in present in a 3:1 mass ratio.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The composition of claim 21, wherein said non-reducing sugars include raffinose.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
90 words
A composition comprising the parts of: a. one or more vitrifying solutes capable of protecting cells such as living rhizobia cells during drying and from destructive reactions which take place during storage of said cells, and b. a desiccant, used to dry said vitrifying solutes and said cells at a temperature above that at which said vitrifying solutes and said cells will freeze and below that at which said vitrifying solutes achieve the vitrified state, at approximately normal atmospheric pressure, until said vitrified solutes and said cells are substantially dry.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
90 words
A composition comprising the parts of: a. one or more vitrifying solutes capable of protecting cells such as living rhizobia cells during drying and from destructive reactions which take place during storage of said cells, and b. a desiccant, used to dry said vitrifying solutes and said cells at a temperature above that at which said vitrifying solutes and said cells will freeze and below that at which said vitrifying solutes achieve the vitrified state, at approximately normal atmospheric pressure, until said vitrified solutes and said cells are substantially dry.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-28 | 1997-08-30 | 1998-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-28 | 2001-08-30 | 2002-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-28 | 2005-08-30 | 2006-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |