Compositions and methods for scalable production and delivery of biologicals
Inventors
SHAKEEL, AMEER HAMZA • DAVIS, ZACHERY GEORGE • FRANK, Joseph Thomas • ZOMORODI, SEPEHR • POURTAHERI, PAYAM
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12193439-B2
Publication Date
2025-01-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure is generally directed to an agricultural formulation comprising an anucleated minicells and an anucleated cell-based platforms for encapsulation and scalable delivery of biologically active compounds. Disclosed herein are compositions for the stable and targeted delivery of biologically active compounds within achromosomal and/or anucleated cells onto and/or into a target cell. The present disclosure also provides methods of improving encapsulation and retention of biologically active compounds in achromosomal and/or anucleated cells and delivering biologically active compounds into a target cell.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to agricultural compositions that include a minicell encapsulating an insecticidal protein toxin capable of controlling or killing a plant pest or a plant pathogen. The minicell functions as an encapsulation format and carrier for biologically active compounds for agricultural use targeting plant pests and pathogens. The compositions are configured to maintain the insecticidal activity of the encapsulated protein toxin during agricultural use.
The agricultural composition further includes stabilizing agents and carrier materials for the minicell. Glutaraldehyde is described as a first stabilizing agent, and additional stabilizing agents include formaldehyde, genipin, epigallocatechin gallat, ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, methylenebisacrylamide, divinyl benzene, or combinations thereof. Carriers include solid or dry carriers, or liquid carriers selected from surfactants, emulsifiers, crop oil concentrates, penetrants, or combinations thereof, where the liquid carrier is capable of increasing stability, wettability, or dispersability of the minicell formulation.
The application of the agricultural composition is defined for a locus that is a plant, a plant part, a plant growing medium, or soil. The composition can be applied as a sprayable composition. The disclosure addresses the delivery of biologically active agents to plant and plant-related environments in a stable, retainable form while controlling or killing a plant pest or a plant pathogen.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set comprises four independent claims. Across these independent claims, the core inventive features center on minicells encapsulating an insecticidal protein toxin, with claim-level distinctions directed to glutaraldehyde stabilization, solid or dry carrier formulations, liquid carrier formulations, and application to plant-related loci.
Minicell encapsulating insecticidal protein toxin for plant pest or pathogen control
An agricultural composition comprising a minicell encapsulating an insecticidal protein toxin that is capable of controlling or killing a plant pest or a plant pathogen.
Glutaraldehyde-stabilized minicell toxin composition
An agricultural composition comprising a minicell encapsulating an insecticidal protein toxin and a first agent for stabilizing the minicell encapsulating the insecticidal protein toxin, wherein the first agent is glutaraldehyde.
Solid or dry carrier with locus application
An agricultural composition comprising a minicell encapsulating an insecticidal protein toxin and a solid or dry carrier, wherein the agricultural composition is applied to a locus that is a plant, a plant part, a plant growing medium, or soil.
Liquid carrier enhancing stability, wettability, or dispersability
An agricultural composition comprising a minicell encapsulating an insecticidal protein toxin and a liquid carrier selected from a surfactant, an emulsifier, a crop oil concentrate, a penetrant, and combinations thereof, wherein the liquid carrier is capable of increasing stability, wettability, or dispersability of the minicell encapsulating the insecticidal protein toxin, and wherein the agricultural composition is applied to a locus that is a plant, a plant part, a plant growing medium, or soil.
The independent claims collectively require minicells encapsulating an insecticidal protein toxin for controlling or killing plant pests or plant pathogens, and further differentiate embodiments by glutaraldehyde stabilization, solid or dry carriers, or liquid carriers selected to increase stability, wettability, or dispersability, with application to plant-related loci.
Stated Advantages
Increases stability, wettability, or dispersability of minicell encapsulating the insecticidal protein toxin.
Provides an agricultural composition capable of controlling or killing a plant pest or a plant pathogen.
Documented Applications
Applied to a locus that is a plant, a plant part, a plant growing medium, or soil to control or kill a plant pest or a plant pathogen.
Sprayable embodiments are described for application to plant, plant part, plant growing medium, or soil loci.
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