Microencapsulation of bacteriophages and related products
Inventors
Tawil, Nancy • ARNOLD, Edwige Caroline Rebecca • Katsarava, Ramaz • Tugushi, David • BERIDZE, Vakhtang
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10849944-B2
Publication Date
2020-12-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
An encapsulated bacteriophage formulation and a method for encapsulating bacteriophages and bacteriophage-related products in polymeric microcapsules is provided. Some embodiments of the method of producing the encapsulated bacteriophages involves a water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a composition comprising polymer microcapsules with active bacteriophages encapsulated in the polymer microcapsules. The polymer microcapsules include an amino-acid based polymer, and the active bacteriophages are adsorbed on inorganic particles that are encapsulated in the polymer microcapsules. The inorganic particles include particles of at least one salt selected from the group consisting of CaCO3, Ca3(PO4)2, MgCO3, and Mg3(PO4)2.
The approach uses amino-acid based biodegradable polymer microcapsules to encapsulate bacteriophages and phage-related products. The polymer microcapsules are based on amino-acid derived polymer systems described as poly(ester amide urea), poly(ester urethane urea), and related poly(ester amide urethane urea) and poly(ester urea)/poly(ester urethane) variants, with ester/amide/urea linkages and tunable biodegradation behavior through polymer composition and molecular weight.
The compositions are supported with examples showing microcapsule formulation features and performance, including bacteriophage entrapment and release behavior and stability of encapsulated phage over time. The document also describes formulations including sprayable and film or thermoreversible gel formats that incorporate components such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poloxamer 407 (P407) to support the microcapsule-containing bacteriophage compositions.
Claims Coverage
The provided claim material includes one independent claim. It contains a core inventive combination of polymer microcapsules including an amino-acid based polymer, active bacteriophages encapsulated in the microcapsules, and inorganic salt particles encapsulated in the microcapsules on which the bacteriophages are adsorbed. The dependent claims further specify refinements to polymer properties, microcapsule structure, and composition or form constraints.
A composition with amino-acid based polymer microcapsules containing adsorbed bacteriophages on inorganic salt particles
A composition comprising polymer microcapsules, active bacteriophages encapsulated in the polymer microcapsules, wherein the polymer microcapsules include an amino-acid based polymer, and wherein the active bacteriophages are adsorbed on inorganic particles encapsulated in the polymer microcapsules, the inorganic particles including particles of at least one salt selected from CaCO3, Ca3(PO4)2, MgCO3, and Mg3(PO4)2.
Across the provided claim material, the inventive scope is centered on amino-acid based polymer microcapsules that encapsulate active bacteriophages and include encapsulated inorganic salt particles to which the bacteriophages are adsorbed. Dependent claims further refine the amino-acid polymer characteristics and microcapsule structural and formulation attributes, including quantified stability of active phages after storage under specified conditions.
Stated Advantages
Microcapsule stability is reported up to about 30 days.
Encapsulated bacteriophage formulations are reported to remain active after about 1 year of storage under the stated conditions.
Low residual dichloromethane (DCM) is reported.
The document reports evidence of bacteriophage entrapment and release, including observations referenced as TEM/lysis.
Documented Applications
Medical and agricultural settings are described for use of the encapsulated bacteriophage compositions, including phage cocktails and phage-related products.
Formulation formats are described including sprays, films, and gels, with matrices that incorporate PVA films and P407 gels.
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