Thermal Stabilisation of Lysozyme through Ensilication

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Materials Science
• Protein Stabilization

Background:

• Protein therapeutics and vaccines require stable storage conditions, often relying on refrigeration or freezing.
• Ensiling offers a promising alternative for room-temperature protein stabilization via encapsulation in a silica matrix.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of three common biological buffers on the ensilication process.
• To assess the stability of ensilicated lysozyme under heat and long-term storage.
• To determine the effect of ensilication buffers on lysozyme activity after desilication.

Main Methods:

• Lysozyme was encapsulated within a silica matrix using three different biological buffers.
• Ensiled lysozyme was subjected to heat treatment (100 °C for 1 hour).
• Long-term storage stability was assessed over 18 months at room temperature.

Main Results:

• Ensiling effectively protected lysozyme from thermal degradation (100 °C for 1 hour).
• Lysozyme retained its activity after 18 months of room-temperature storage in the silica matrix.
• The selection of biological buffer during ensilication showed minimal impact on post-desilication lysozyme activity.

Conclusions:

• Ensiling is a robust method for achieving long-term protein stabilization at room temperature.
• The ensilication process is compatible with commonly used biological buffers.
• This methodology supports the development of stable protein-based products without the need for cold chain storage.