Inventors:
Andrew M. Tometsko - late of Rochester NY
Stephen Dertinger - Webster NY
Dorothea Torous - Rochester NY
Kenneth Tometsko - Rochester NY
Assignee:
Litron Laboratories - Rochester NY
International Classification:
A01N 102
Abstract:
Disclosed are a composition for the lyophilization of mammalian red blood cells comprising a hydrophilic polymer, a carbohydrate, and an organic solvent; and a method of using the composition to lyophilize red blood cells comprising mixing red blood cells with the composition, freezing the mixture, and drying the mixture by removing water by sublimation. Also disclosed are red blood cells lyophilized according to this method for lyophilization, and a method for reconstituting the lyophilized red blood cells. In particular, the composition used to lyophilize the red blood cells comprises a mixture of a hydrophilic polymer ranging from 1,450-20,000 Daltons at 5-50% w/v, a mono- or disaccharide or a mixture thereof from 0. 01-0. 2M and an organic solvent such as a primary alcohol, a secondary alcohol, dimethyl sulfoxide or combinations thereof at 0. 5-20% v/v.