Studies into levan as a biocompatible excipient for thermal stabilization of protein drugs

Abstract

Use of an appropriate peptide protein as a therapeutic molecule is attractive due to their selectivity specificity and biocompatibility PDs are unique when compared to small molecule drugs as both the sequence and structure of the peptide is important for the correct interaction with the correct cellular receptor or ligand Therefore the chemical integrity of the sequence and the structural orientation of the functional groups are essential for the intended therapeutic effects The activity of protein pharmaceuticals depends on its structure and therefore structure modifications can lead to untoward reactions eg protein aggregates resulting from protein instability can lead to reduced biological activities and also to adverse reactions like allergic reactions and even anaphylactic reactions Proteins in unfavorable conditions can also adsorb on to the containers tubings or syringes which can reduce the potency of the medication Due to the temperature sensitivity many therapeutically important PDs for example vaccines hormones etc needs to be maintained at low temperature 2 to 80C using efficient cold chain from the manufacturing unit to the point of use Maintenance of intact cold chain at appropriate temperature can be a serious problem in developing countries most of which lies on the warmer latitudes Additives can be added to improve the stability of PDs Polysaccharides are used as such addit ives excipients Levan is a polysaccharide which has been shown to be biocompatible, neutral and capable of forming solutions with low intrinsic viscosity newline