Patent · US Expired

Methods of enzyme therapy by orally administering crosslinked enzyme crystals

US5976529A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
8References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 1995
Grant dateNov 2, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 7, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S530/81
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A protein such as an enzyme or antibody is immobilized by crosslinking crystals of the protein with a multifunctional crosslinking agent. The crosslinked protein crystals may be lyophilized for storage. A preferred protein is an enzyme such as thermolysin, elastase, asparaginase, lysozyme, lipase or urease. Crosslinked enzyme crystals preferably retain at least 91% activity after incubation for three hours in the presence of a concentration of Pronase.TM. that causes the soluble uncrosslinked form of the enzyme to lose at least 94% of its initial activity under the same conditions. A preferred enzyme:Pronase.TM. ratio is 1:40. Enzyme crystals that are crosslinked may be microcrystals having a cross-section of 10.sup.-1 mm or less. Crosslinked enzyme or antibody crystals may be used in an assay, diagnostic kit or biosensor for detecting an analyte, in an extracorporeal device for altering a component of a fluid, in producing a product such as using crosslinked thermolysin crystals to produce aspartame and in separating a substance from a mixture. Enzyme therapy such as lipase therapy can be performed by administering orally crosslinked lipase crystals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.