To investigate whether a heat-labile macromolecule could be
loaded into a solid sugar glass using the novel methodology, a
model protein macromolecule, β-galactosidase (β-gal) enzyme, was
incorporated into dehydrated TRA/SUC (75:25% w/w) sugar glasses.
Fig. 4 shows that whilst β-gal enzyme activity diminished over the first week of storage the activity was significantly (pb0.0001) higher
when the enzyme was stored within a sugar glass matrix when
compared to storage in PB alone. Whilst the enzyme was almost
completely denatured following dehydration in PB alone, enzyme
activity was retained above 40% for over 3 months storage under
vacuum or refridgeration