Matrices and media for storage and stabilization of biomolecules

Inventors

Hogan, Michael • Saghbini, Michael • Wong, David • Shi, Chunnian

Assignees

Gentegra LLC

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions useful for biomolecule storage comprising a water soluble inorganic compound, a stabilizer, or a combination thereof. The present invention also provides methods of using the compositions of the invention to store biomolecules in the dry state and in solution, as well as sample carriers and kits comprising compositions of the invention.

Core Innovation

The disclosed invention relates to biomolecule storage and stabilization compositions that include water-soluble inorganic compounds and stabilizers, optionally with RNase inhibitors, to form solid-state or dry-state matrices or aqueous media. The compositions are convertible back to a liquid form by suspending, re-hydrating, or solubilizing in water, including dry-state crystalline/paracrystalline matrices. The document further describes sample carriers that include a container and a discrete sample node associated with the matrix or the aqueous medium.

In representative formulations, the compositions include boric acid or borate together with stabilizers such as singlet oxygen quenchers and hydroxyl radical scavengers, and optionally hydroperoxide removing agents. Metal chelators and reducing agents are also described as optionally included components. Plasticizers such as poly-alcohols or sugars are included to enable the dry-state composition, with examples referencing poly-alcohol/dextran/trehalose-type formulations.

The document provides experimental examples showing biomolecule recovery after dry-state storage, including DNA recovery, and for RNA, high stabilization at elevated temperature conditions. The examples describe multiple borate/citrate/EDTA/pyruvate/mannitol/dextran-type formulations, and include degraded or no-matrix controls for comparison. The described systems are associated with downstream detection workflows referenced in the document, including gel electrophoresis and real time PCR for recovered biomolecules.

Claims Coverage

The provided claim text presents one independent claim defining a composition with specific component classes and a solid or dry-state matrix convertible to an aqueous liquid form, plus an aqueous medium alternative. The claim set explicitly specifies the RNase inhibitor as aluminon and includes a poly-alcohol plasticizer and a hydroxyl radical scavenger, with dependent refinements further specifying additional components and embodiments.

Across the provided claim text, the inventive coverage centers on a boric acid or salt biomolecule stabilization composition using a poly-alcohol plasticizer, a hydroxyl radical scavenger, and the RNase inhibitor aluminon, with the composition formulated as a dry or solid matrix convertible to a liquid in water or as an aqueous medium. The dependent refinements further narrow the composition by adding a metal chelator, specifying EDTA as the metal chelator, and naming histidine as the hydroxyl radical scavenger.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications