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Rapid One-step Enzymatic Synthesis and All-aqueous Purification of Trehalose Analogues
Published on: February 17, 2017
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Increasing storage stability of freeze-dried plasma using trehalose
Raffaele Brogna1,2, Harriëtte Oldenhof1, Harald Sieme1
1Unit for Reproductive Medicine-Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Plos One
|June 12, 2020
Summary
Dry preservation of human plasma using sugars, particularly trehalose, offers a stable alternative to cryogenic storage. This method minimizes protein aggregation and oxidative damage, facilitating ambient temperature transport and storage.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Cryogenic preservation of blood plasma requires specialized infrastructure (liquid nitrogen, freezers).
- Developing ambient temperature storage methods for plasma is crucial for accessibility and logistics.
- Lyoprotectants are essential for stabilizing biological macromolecules during freeze-drying.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of dry preservation for human plasma using sugar-based lyoprotectants.
- To evaluate the impact of freeze-drying and storage on plasma component stability.
- To identify optimal conditions for long-term plasma preservation at ambient temperatures.
Main Methods:
- Human plasma freeze-dried with varying concentrations (0-10%) of glucose, sucrose, and trehalose.
- Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine glass transition temperatures.
- Analysis of protein aggregation, secondary structure, and oxidative damage under different storage conditions.
Main Results:
- Freeze-dried plasma with glucose, sucrose, and trehalose exhibited distinct glass transition temperatures (72°C, 46°C, 15°C, respectively).
- Sugar addition dose-dependently inhibited freeze-drying-induced protein aggregation, with 10% sugar nearly eliminating it.
- Trehalose significantly reduced protein aggregation during storage at elevated temperatures and minimized reactive oxygen species accumulation.
Conclusions:
- Freeze-drying human plasma with trehalose is a viable alternative to cryogenic preservation.
- Trehalose effectively stabilizes plasma components, preventing aggregation and oxidation during storage.
- Dry preservation of plasma using trehalose enhances stability for long-term storage and transport.

