EP2328567A2

EP2328567A2 - Continuous fiber layer comprising an active substance on the basis of bio-polymers, the use thereof, and method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: EP2328567A2
Application number: EP09777749A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Burghard Liebmann; Evgueni Klimov
Original assignee: BASF SE
Current assignee: BASF SE
Priority date: 2008-08-08
Filing date: 2009-08-07
Publication date: 2011-06-08
Also published as: EP2684562A1; WO2010015419A3; US20110136669A1; JP2011530491A; US20140045695A1; CN102176904B; CN102176904A; WO2010015419A2

Abstract

The invention relates to continuous fiber layers comprising an active substance on the basis of bio-polymers, comprising a fibrous, bio-polymer active substance carrier, and at least one active substance associated with the carrier and releasable from the continuous fiber layer; to formulations comprising an active substance, said formulations comprising such continuous fiber layers; to the use of continuous fiber layers comprising an active substance for the production of formulations comprising an active substance; and to a method for the production of continuous fiber layers comprising an active substance. The invention further relates to corresponding continuous fiber layers comprising an active substance, and to the use thereof for the production of wound treatment and hygiene products, and to the respectively produced wound treatment and hygiene products.

Description

Active substance-containing fiber fabrics based on biopolymers, their applications and processes for their preparation

The invention relates to active ingredient-containing fiber fabrics based on biopolymers, comprising a fibrous, biopolymer drug carrier and at least one associated with the carrier and releasable from the fiber sheet active ingredient; active ingredient-containing formulations comprising such fiber fabrics; the use of active ingredient-containing fiber fabrics according to the invention for the production of formulations containing active ingredients; and method for producing inventive fiber sheet structures. Furthermore, the invention relates to corresponding active ingredient-free fiber fabrics and their use for the production of wound care and hygiene articles, as well as the corresponding wound care and hygiene articles themselves.

State of the art:

WO-A-2007/082936 describes the use of amphiphilic, self-assembling proteins for the formulation of sparingly water-soluble active substances by dispersing the effect substances in a protein-containing protective colloid. After mixing the sparingly water-soluble active ingredients and the amphiphilic, self-assembling proteins in a common disperse phase and subsequent phase separation in a protein- and effect-rich phase and a low-protein and low-phase phase are protein microbeads in which the poorly water-soluble drugs are encapsulated.

Various publications describe the production of fibers by spinning processes from chemically synthesized polymers and biopolymers as well as proteins.

For the production of nanofibres and mesofibers, a multitude of methods are known to the person skilled in the art, of which the electrospinning method (electrospinning) is of greatest importance at present, In this method, which is described, for example, by DH Reneker, HD Chun in Nanotechn. 1996), page 216 f., A polymer melt or a polymer solution is usually exposed to a high electric field at an edge serving as an electrode, which can be achieved, for example, by passing the polymer melt or polymer solution under low pressure through an electric field with one pole of a voltage

M / 49169 source-connected cannula is extruded. Due to the resulting electrostatic charging of the polymer melt or polymer solution, a material flow directed onto the counter electrode is produced, which solidifies on the way to the counterelectrode. Depending on the electrode geometries, nonwovens or so-called nonwovens or ensembles of ordered fibers are obtained with this process.

DE-A1-10133393 discloses a process for producing hollow fibers having an inner diameter of 1 to 100 nm, in which a solution of a water-insoluble polymer - for example a poly-L-lactide solution in dichloromethane or a polyamide-46 solution in Pyridine - electrospun. A similar method is also known from WO-A1-01 / 09414 and DE-A1-10355665.

DE-A1-19600162 discloses a process for the production of lawnmower wire or textile fabrics in which polyamide, polyester or polypropylene as a filament-forming polymer, a maleic anhydride-modified polyethylene / polypropylene rubber and one or more aging stabilizers are combined, melted and mixed with one another are mixed before this melt is melt-spun. ^'

DE-A1-10 2004 009 887 relates to a process for producing fibers with a diameter of <50 μm by electrostatic spinning or spraying a melt of at least one thermoplastic polymer.

By electrospinning polymer melts, only fibers with diameters larger than 1 μm can be produced. For a variety of applications, e.g. Filtration applications, however, nano- and / or mesofibres are required with a diameter of less than 1 micron, which can be prepared by the known electrospinning only by using polymer solutions.

Another suitable method for the production of fiber webs is centrifugal spinning (also called rotor spinning). EP-B1-0624665 and EP-A1-1088918 (both BASF applications) disclose a process for the production of fibrous structures from methylamine-formaldehyde resin and their blends with thermoplastic polymers by means of centrifugal spinning processes on a centrifuge plate.

M / 49169 The process and apparatus for producing fibers from melt of different polymeric materials by means of centrifugal forces are shown in DE-A-102005048939.

The processing of spider silk proteins of the spider Nephila clavipes from a hexafluoro-2-propanol solution into nanofibers by electrospinning was described in 1998 by Zarkoob and Reneker (Polymer 45: 3973-3977, 2004). Spin tests of Bombyx mori silk from a formic acid solution are disclosed by Sukigara and Ko (Polymer 44: 5721-572, 2003), in which the fiber morphology is influenced by varying the electrospinning parameters. Jin and Kaplan reported water-based electrospinning of silk or silk / polyethylene oxide (Biomacro- molecules 3: 1233-1239, 2002).

WO-A-03/060099 describes various methods (including electrospinning) and apparatuses for spinning Bombyx mori silk proteins and spider silk proteins. The spider silk proteins used were produced recombinantly with transgenic goats and purified from their milk and then spun.

WO-A-01/54667 describes the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric carrier prepared by electrospinning of organic polymers, such as in particular polyethylene oxide, wherein the carrier contains a pharmaceutical agent. WO 04/014304 describes corresponding pharmaceutical compositions with polymeric carriers obtained by electrospinning of polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyvinylpyrrolidoles or polyvinylpyrrolidone or polyvinylpyrrolidone-polyvinyl acetate copolymers.

WO-A-2007/082936 describes the formulation of sparingly water-soluble effect substances with the aid of amphiphilic, self-assembling proteins. In this case, so-called protein microbeads are formed by induced phase separation processes. However, an efficient formulation of water-soluble active ingredients is not possible with this method.

The previously known methods for the formulation of active ingredients and effect substances do not meet all the requirements, in particular for pharmaceutical use

M / 49169 formulated drug, such as mechanical stability, toxic safety, biocompatibility, high drug bioavailability.

Furthermore, the active ingredients formulated by known methods are often present in crystalline form, which significantly reduces their bioavailability. In particular, the continuous, delayed, targeted release of the active compounds over long periods represents a particular challenge in the preparation of a suitable formulation.

In addition, no method is known from the prior art, which is equally suitable for the formulation of various drug classes in a polymeric carrier.

Summary of the invention:

It is an object of the present invention to provide a process which allows the formulation of substantially all classes of active substances using suitable carriers as formulation auxiliaries and, where appropriate, better fulfills one or more of the abovementioned criteria than the processes known from the prior art.

In the field of pharmaceutical agents, in particular the cough and mucus solubilizers of guaiacol derivatives there are reference products, such as tablets of the trademark Mucinex ^® , which show continuous, delayed release profiles, such as the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether (also guaifenesin). However, an active ingredient release is achieved here only under gastric conditions. Intestinal conditions do not lead to drug release. For the most part, chemically synthesized, non-biocompatible polymers are used as formulation auxiliaries which have no further benefit, for example an increase in the active ingredient bioavailability due to increased absorption. It was therefore another object to provide a biocompatible formulation for cough and expectorant agents, such as Guaiacol glyceryl ether, which is a continuous and delayed but also proteolytic, occurring in the gastrointestinal tract proteases, triggered drug release among the allowed there prevailing conditions.

The above objects could surprisingly by providing active ingredient

Fibrous sheets comprising a fibrous polymeric knitted fabric M / 49169 carrier and a releasable agent associated with the carrier, wherein the carrier comprises at least one biopolymer as the polymer component.

In particular, according to the invention, naturally, e.g. be used in the gastrointestinal tract, in the soil (by microorganisms) or on the skin, occurring proteases as a targeted, controllable triggering mechanism for the continuous and delayed release of the active ingredients from the new formulations described herein. Furthermore, with the methods described here, it is possible to prepare formulations of active substance in which the active ingredient is also present in an amorphous state or as a solid solution. In contrast to the crystalline state, these can bring about increased bioavailability of the active substance, which can be increased even more in combination with the biopolymer formulation auxiliaries, such as the amphiphilic, self-assimilating proteins.

Brief Description:

In the accompanying figures shows

1 shows an electron microscopic (SEM) image of C16

Spider silk protein sheets (fibers) with encapsulated drug guaiacol glyceryl ether (GGE);

2 crystallinity studies (WAXS in transmission) of the active ingredient GGE in the electrospun-derived C16 spider silk protein

Formulations in comparison to the pure substances (GGE or C16 powder);

3 shows the release of the active ingredient GGE from a C16 spider silk protein powder obtained by electrospinning and compressed into tablets.

Formulation in potassium phosphate buffer (control) as well as artificial gastric juice and intestinal juice. As 100% value, the total active substance concentration listed in the associated exemplary embodiment was used;

. Figure 4 shows the release of the active GGE from commercially available tablets of Mucinex ^® brand (company Adams Respiratory Therapeutics);

M / 49169 5 electron micrographs (SEM) of C16

Spider silk protein sheets (fibers) with the encapsulated active ingredient clotrimazole;

FIG. 6 shows crystallinity studies (WAXS in transmission) of the active ingredient clotrimazole in the electrospun-derived C16-spider silk protein formulations in comparison to clotrimazole pure substance;

7 shows the release of the active ingredient clotrimazole from a C16 spider silk protein formulation obtained by electrospinning and compressed into tablets in potassium phosphate buffer (control) as well as artificial gastric juice and intestinal juice. The 100% value used was the active ingredient concentration listed in the corresponding example.

8 electron micrographs (SEM) of C16

Spider silk protein sheets (fibers) with the encapsulated agent metazachlor.

FIG. 9: Crystallinity studies (WAXS in transmission) of the active ingredient metazachlor in the C16 spider silk protein formulations obtained by electrospinning in comparison to metazachlor pure substance.

10 shows the release of the active substance metazachlor from a C16 spider silk protein formulation obtained by electrospinning in potassium phosphate buffer (control) and protolytically active proteinase K solution.

Fig. 11 Electron microscopic (SEM) images of C16 spider silk protein sheets (fibers) with trapped

Active substance Uvinul A +.

12 crystallinity studies (WAXS in transmission) of the active ingredient Uvinul A + in the C16 spider silk protein formulations obtained by electrospinning compared to Uvinul A +

Pure substance.

M / 49169 13 shows the release of the active ingredient Uvinul A + from a C16 spider silk protein formulation obtained by electrospinning in potassium phosphate buffer (control) and in protolytically active proteinase K solution.

Fig. 14 Light and electron microscopic (SEM) images of (A) R16 protein sheets (fibers) and (B) S16 protein sheets (fibers).

Fig. 15 Electron micrographs (SEM) of R16 (see (A)) and S16 (see (B)) protein sheets containing Uvinul

A +.

FIG. 16: Crystallinity studies (WAXS in transmission) of the active ingredient UvinulA + in the electrospun-derived R16 protein nonwoven fabric (A) and S16 protein nonwoven fabric (B) in comparison to Uvinul A + pure substance.

17 shows the release of the active ingredient Uvinul A + from an electrospun-derived R16 protein nonwoven fabric (A) and S16 protein nonwoven fabric (B) in potassium phosphate buffer (control) and in proteolytically active proteinase K solution.

Detailed description of the invention:

1. Definition of terms used:

Unless otherwise specified, the following meanings of technical terms apply within the scope of the present description:

A "carrier polymer" is understood to mean biopolymers or their mixtures, or mixtures of at least one synthetic polymer and one biopolymer, the carrier polymer having the ability to enter into noncovalent interactions with the active substance (s) to be formulated or particulate To enclose (carry) active ingredients (dispersed or crystalline) or adsorb.

M / 49169 A "non-covalent" interaction is any type of bond known to those skilled in the art, with no formation of covalent bonds between the active agent and the carrier polymer, by way of example but not limited to: hydrogen bonding; Complex formation, ion interaction.

An "active agent" or "effect substance" is understood to mean synthetic or natural, low molecular weight substances having hydrophilic, lipophilic or amphiphilic properties which can be used in the agrochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic or food and animal feed industries, as well as biological active macromolecules can be embedded in or adsorbed to a fibrous sheet according to the invention, such as peptides (such as oligopeptides having 2 to 10 amino acid residues and polypeptides having more than 10, such as 11 to 100 amino acid residues) and enzymes and single or double-stranded nucleic acid molecules (such as oligonucleotides with 2 bis 50 nucleic acid tests and polynucleotides with more than 50 nucleic acid residues).

"Low molecular weight" means molar masses of less than 5000, in particular less than 2000, such as 100 to 1000 grams per mole.

"High molecular weight" means molar masses of more than 5000, in particular less than 10,000, such as 10,000 to 1,000,000 grams per mole. The terms "active ingredient" and "effect substance" are used as a synonym.

According to the invention, the term "fiber fabrics" includes both individual polymer fibers and also the ordered or disordered one-layer or multi-layered assembly of a multiplicity of such fibers, for example fiber nonwovens or nonwoven webs.

An "active substance carrier" is fibrous and carries, preferably in adsorbed, non-covalently bonded form on the fiber surface and / or integrated into the fiber material, the active ingredient (s) to be processed according to the invention The active ingredient can be distributed uniformly or unevenly over the fiber In addition, the active ingredient may be reversibly adsorbed in amorphous, partially crystalline or crystalline form on / in the active substance carrier.

A "soluble" excipient is in an aqueous or organic solvent, preferably an aqueous solvent such as water or an M / 49169 Water-based solvent, in a pH range of pH 2 to 13, such as 4 to 11, partially or completely soluble. Thus, the solubility in water can vary over a wide range - ie, from good, ie, rapid and complete or substantially complete solubility, to very slow and complete or incomplete solubility.

In principle, all polymers which are in a temperature range between 0 and 240 ^° C., a pressure range between 1 and 100 bar, a pH range of 0 to 14 or ionic strengths of up to 10 mol / l in. Are suitable as "synthetic" polymeric constituents of the active substance preparations according to the invention Water or / and are soluble in organic solvents.

An "aqueous polymer dispersion" in the sense of the present invention denotes, also in accordance with general knowledge, a mixture of at least two mutually immiscible or substantially immiscible phases, one of the at least two phases being water, and the second at least one im For the purposes of the present invention, "substantially water-insoluble polymers" are in particular polymers having a solubility in water of less than 0.1% by weight, based on the total weight of the solution.

A "degradable" active substance carrier is present when the fiber structure is partially or completely destroyed by chemical, biological or physical processes, for example by the action of light or other radiation, solvents, chemical or biochemical oxidation, hydrolysis, proteolysis can thereby be mediated by enzymes or microorganisms, such as prokaryotes or eukaryotes, such as bacteria, yeasts, fungi.

By "miscibility" of polymers is meant according to the invention that in a mixture of at least two different synthetic polymers or biopolymers one polymer can act as the other solvent, which means that a single-phase system is formed between the two different polymers Components will be present according to two different phases.

A "composite polymer" is understood according to the invention to mean a homogeneous or inhomogeneous mixture of at least one fiber-forming polymer component with M / 49169 at least one low molecular weight or high molecular weight additive, such as in particular a non-polymerizable additive, such as an active ingredient or effect substance according to the above definition.

By a "processed form" of a fibrous sheet is meant that the product originally obtained in the manufacture of the fibrous sheet is further processed, for example, that the fibers are compressed or tableted, applied to another support and / or subjected to comminution to shorten the fiber length become.

Unless otherwise specified, molecular weight data for polymers are Mn or Mw values

2. Preferred Embodiments:

A first subject of the invention relates to a medicated fibrous sheet comprising a fibrous, polymeric, soluble and / or degradable drug carrier and one or more such. 2, 3, 4 or 5, associated with the carrier, and releasable from the fibrous sheet, low molecular weight or high molecular weight agents, wherein the carrier as the polymer component one or more, such. 2, 3, 4 or 5, structurally or scaffold forming, slightly aggregating, e.g. higher molecular weight biopolymers, which may optionally be additionally chemically and / or enzymatically modified, such as e.g. by esterification, amidation, saponification, carboxylation, acetylation, acylation, hydroxylation, glycosylation and farnesylation.

In this case, the fiber fabric is in particular obtainable by means of a spinning process, in particular by electro-spinning of an electro-spinnable solution which comprises the at least one biopolymer and the at least one active ingredient, in particular in dissolved form. In the fibrous sheet, the at least one active ingredient is in amorphous, partially crystalline or crystalline form.

The active ingredient is integrated in the carrier (embedded) and / or adsorbed thereon.

The biopolymer is preferably a protein, in particular an amphiphilic, self-assimilating protein.

M / 49169 Preferably, the amphiphilic self-assembling proteins are microbead-forming proteins.

Preferably, the amphiphilic self-assembling proteins are intrinsically unfolded proteins.

In particular, the amphiphilic self-assembling protein is a silk protein, e.g. a spider silk protein.

An example of a suitable spider silk protein is the C16 spider silk protein comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or a spinnable protein derived from said protein having a sequence identity of at least about 60%, e.g. at least about 70, 80, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99%.

Examples of other intrinsically unfolded, amphiphilic self-assembling proteins are the R16 protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 4 or the S16 protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 6; or a spinnable protein derived from these proteins having a sequence identity of at least about 60%, e.g. at least about 70, 80, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99%.

In particular, fibrous sheets are subject of the invention, wherein at least one pharmaceutical active substance is contained, such as e.g. a cough and expectorant (expectorant); in particular the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether (guaifenesin, CAS number 93-14-1) or a derivative thereof.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a fibrous sheet, wherein the active ingredient is a crop protection agent, or a skin and / or hair cosmetic active ingredient.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a fibrous sheet, wherein the carrier comprises at least one further polymer component which is selected from synthetic polymers, in particular synthetic homo- or copolymers.

The invention also relates to such fibrous sheets, wherein the polymeric support is a composite polymer which is selected from

M / 49169 a. Mixtures of at least 2 miscible biopolymers; b. Mixtures of at least 2 immiscible biopolymers; c. Mixtures of at least one synthetic homo- or copolymer and at least one biopolymer which are miscible with each other; d. Mixtures of at least one synthetic homo- or copolymer and at least one biopolymer which are immiscible with each other.

In the fibrous sheets of the present invention, the synthetic polymer component has a molecular weight (Mw) in the range of about 500 to 10,000,000, e.g. 1,000 to 1,000,000, or 10,000 to 500,000 or 25,000 to 250,000.

The diameter of the active ingredient carrier fibers according to the invention is about 10 nm to 100 microns, such as 50 nm to 10 microns, or 100 nm to 2 microns. Its active ingredient loading is about 0.01 to 80% by weight, e.g. about 1 to 70 wt .-% or about 10 to 50 wt .-%, each based on the solids content of the fiber sheet.

In particular, the fibrous sheet according to the invention is selected from polymer fibers, polymer films and polymer nonwovens.

Fibrous webs of the present invention may further be characterized in that carrier polymer components and actives non-covalently interact (i.e., form, in particular, form a molecular solution).

Another object of the invention relates to active ingredient-containing formulations, comprising a fibrous sheet as defined above in processed form, optionally in combination with at least one other formulation auxiliaries.

For example, the fibrous sheet may be in comminuted or non-comminuted form therein.

In addition, the formulations may comprise fibrous sheets in compacted (pressed) form (such as tablets or capsules), in powder form, or coated on a carrier substrate.

The formulations according to the invention are selected in particular from cosmetic (in particular skin and hair cosmetic), human and animal pharmaceutical, agrochemical, in particular fungicidal, herbicidal, insecticidal and other M / 49169 Crop protection formulations, formulations and food and feed additives, such as food and feed supplements.

Another object of the invention relates to the use of a drug-containing fibrous sheet according to the above definition for the preparation of a drug-containing formulation according to the invention; and the use of an active ingredient-containing formulation as defined above for the controlled release (release) of an active ingredient contained therein.

Finally, the subject matter of the invention is a process for the production of a fiber fabric according to the above definition, wherein a. at least one active ingredient mixed together with the at least one biopolymer component in a common liquid phase and b. then the embedding (adsorption) of the active substance in (on) the biopolymer fiber by means of a spinning process.

In particular, the procedure is such that at least one active ingredient and the polymer component are mixed in a solvent phase and spun from this mixture; or mixing at least one active ingredient and the polymer component in a mixture of at least two mutually miscible solvents, wherein active ingredients and polymers are soluble in at least one of the solvents, and spun from this mixture.

In particular, the invention relates to a method for producing a fibrous sheet structure, wherein the biopolymer is an amphiphilic, self-assembling protein, which is mixed with at least one active ingredient in formic acid and then spun from this mixture.

The spinning process used is preferably an electrospinning process or a centrifugal (rotor) spinning process.

In this case, one works in particular at a temperature in the range of about 5 to 50 ⁰ C.

Furthermore, the invention relates to fibrous sheet material comprising the abovementioned carrier material, which, however, is substantially free of active substances, in particular low molecular weight active compounds. M / 49169 The invention furthermore relates to the use of such fibrous sheet structures for producing a formulation containing active ingredient or active ingredient-free, which is selected, for example, from cosmetic, human and animal pharmaceutical, agrochemical formulations, food and feed additives.

Furthermore, the invention relates to active ingredient-free fiber webs, comprising a fibrous, polymeric soluble and / or degradable carrier, wherein the carrier comprises as polymer component at least one biopolymer, which is optionally chemically and / or enzymatically additionally lent addition, and wherein the biopolymer is an amphiphilic, self-assembling Protein, is .; and wherein the biopolymer is in particular a silk protein selected from the R16 protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 4, and the S16 protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 6; or a spinnable protein derived from these proteins having a sequence identity of at least about 60%.

The invention furthermore relates to the use of such active substance-free fibrous sheets for the production of medical wound treatment and wound care products and hygiene articles.

The invention also relates to wound care and wound care products made using a fibrous sheet of the invention, such as e.g. Wound dressings, plasters, tamponades, wound adhesives, bandages, dressings. For example, the wound materials of the present invention can be used to superficially cover minor wounds such as lacerations or major wounds such as diabetic wounds, ulcers such as pressure sores, surgical wounds, burns, eczema, and the like. For example, products according to the invention can be used in the treatment of bleeding or non-bleeding wounds or injuries in the area of the skin, eyes, ears, nose, oral cavity, teeth, as well as in the interior of the body, such as surgery in the intestinal region (stomach, intestine, Liver, kidneys, urinary tract), thorax (heart, lungs), genital area, skull, musculature; in the treatment and aftercare of wounds related to the transplantation of tissues, vessels or organs.

The invention also relates to hygiene articles, produced using a fibrous sheet according to the invention, as are commonly used in the personal care field, such as diapers, incontinence products, panty liners, M / 49169 Sanitary napkins, tampons, pads for skin and facial care, wipes and the like.

3. Further embodiments of the invention:

(i) biopolymers

Basically suitable for the formation of carrier structures according to the invention are those biopolymers which have the ability to form scaffold structures and / or to easily aggregate. Usually this requires a high molecular weight, which can lead to the subsequent intermolecular entanglement of the molecular chains. However, intramolecular, non-covalent interactions, such as hydrogen bonds or hydrophobic interactions, may also be involved in the formation of the support structures according to the invention.

Nonlimiting examples include: cellulose, cellulose ethers such as e.g. Methylcellulose (degree of substitution 3 - 40%), ethylcellulose, butylcellulose, hydroxymethylcelluloses; hydroxyethylcelluloses; Hydroxypropylcelluloses, isopropylcellulose, cellulose esters, e.g. Cellulose acetate, bacterial celluloses, starches, modified starches, e.g. Methyl ether starch, gum arabic, chitin, shellac, gelatin, chitosan, pectin, casein, alginate, as well as copolymers and block copolymers of the monomers of the above-mentioned. Links.; and nucleic acid molecules.

Particularly suitable biopolymers are amphiphilic, self-assembling proteins. Amphiphilic, self-assembling proteins consist of polypeptides composed of amino acids, in particular of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids. The amino acids may also be modified, for example, acetylated, glycosylated, farnesylated.

Their self-assembling properties make it possible for certain proteins which can be used according to the invention to take up relatively high molecular weight structures and thus to permanently encapsulate active substances. These amphiphilic, self-assembling proteins are suitable as formulation auxiliaries primarily for poorly water-soluble, hydrophobic active ingredients. Due to their amphiphilic molecular character, these proteins interact strongly with hydrophobic drugs and can stabilize them in aqueous solutions. Subsequent phase separation processes can be used to encapsulate the hydrophobic drugs in a protein matrix. The interaction of

M / 49169 ^ amphiphilic, self-assembling proteins with more water-soluble drugs is significantly weaker, which is why induced phase separation processes from aqueous solution, for example by adding lyotropic salts do not lead to the effective encapsulation of water-soluble drugs such as microbeads. Spinning processes can be used to produce relatively high molecular weight protein structures such as protein sheets (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) from aqueous solutions or organic solvents in which amphiphilic, self-assimilating proteins and water-soluble active substances are dissolved or dispersed. Also, not or poorly water-soluble drugs can be encapsulated.

The protein-rich and active-substance-rich phases produced in this process can later be cured and separated off as protein-stable protein structures containing mechanically stable active ingredient and optionally dried and processed into tablets or capsules.

Suitable amphiphilic, self-assembling proteins for the formulation of both water-soluble and sparingly water-soluble effect substances are those proteins which can form protein microbeads. Protein microbeads have a globular shape with an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 100, in particular of

0.5 to 20, preferably from 1 to 5 and more preferably from 2 to 4 μ m.

Protein microbeads can preferably be prepared by the process described below:

The protein is dissolved in a first solvent. As a solvent, for example, aqueous salt solutions can be used. In particular, highly concentrated salt solutions with a concentration greater than 2, in particular greater than 4 and particularly preferably greater than 5 molar, whose ions have more pronounced chaotropic properties than sodium and chloride ions. An example of such a saline solution is 6 M guanidinium thiocyanate or 9 M lithium bromide. Furthermore, organic solvents can be used to dissolve the proteins. In particular, fluorinated alcohols or cyclic hydrocarbons or organic acids are suitable. Examples are hexafluoroisopropanol, cyclohexane and formic acid. The preparation of the protein microbeads can be carried out in the solvents described. Alternatively, this solvent can be replaced by another solvent, for example, low-concentration salt solutions (c <0.5 M) by dialysis or dilution. The final concentration of the dissolved protein should be between 0.1-100 mg / ml be. The temperature at which the process is carried out is usually 0-80, preferably 5-50 and particularly preferably 10 40 ⁰ C.

If aqueous solutions are used, they may also be mixed with a buffer, preferably in the range of pH 4-10, particularly preferably 5-9, very particularly preferably 6-8.5.

Addition of an additive induces phase separation. This results in a protein-rich phase emulsified in the mixture of solvent and additive. Due to surface effects, emulsified protein-rich droplets take on a round shape. By choosing the solvent, the additive and the protein concentration, the average diameter of the protein microbeads can be adjusted to values between 0.1 μm to 100 μm.

As an additive, it is possible to use all substances which, on the one hand, are miscible with the first solvent and, on the other hand, induce the formation of a protein-rich phase. When microbead formation is carried out in organic solvents, organic substances having a lower polarity than the solvent, e.g. Toluene. In aqueous solutions salts can be used as an additive whose ions have more pronounced cosmotropic properties than sodium and chloride ions (e.g., ammonium sulfate, potassium phosphate). The final concentration of the additive should be between 1% and 50% by weight, based on the protein solution, depending on the type of additive.

The protein-rich droplets are fixed by curing, whereby the round shape is retained. The fixation is based on the formation of strong intermolecular interactions. The nature of the interactions may be non-covalent, eg by the formation of intermolecular β-sheet crystals or covalent, eg by chemical crosslinking. The curing can be carried out by the additive and / or by the addition of another suitable substance. The curing takes place at temperatures between 0 and 80 ° C, preferably between 5 and 60 ⁰ C.

This further substance can be a chemical cross-linker. A chemical cross-linker is understood to mean a molecule in which at least two chemically reactive groups are connected to one another via a linker. Examples of these are sulfhydryl-reactive groups (e.g., maleimides, pydridyl disulfides, α-

M / 49169 ^ ^

Haloacetyls, vinylsulfones, sulfatoalkylsulfones (preferably sulfatoethylsulfones)), amine-reactive groups (eg succinimidyl esters, carbodiimde, hydroxymethylphosphine, imidoesters, PFP esters, aldehydes, isothiocyanates etc.), carboxy-reactive groups (eg amines, etc.), hydroxyl reactive groups (eg, isocyanates, etc.), unselective groups (eg, aryl azides, etc.), and photoactivatable groups (eg, perfluorophenyl azide, etc.). These reactive groups can form covalent linkages with amine, thiol, carboxyl or hydroxyl groups present in proteins.

The stabilized microbeads are washed with a suitable further solvent, e.g. Water and then dried by methods known to those skilled in the art, e.g. by lyophilization, contact drying or spray drying. The success of the sphere formation is checked by scanning electron microscopy.

Proteins that are predominantly intrinsically unfolded in aqueous solution are suitable for the production of protein microbeads. For example, this condition may be calculated using an algorithm that underlies the lUpred program (http://iupred.enzim.hu/index.html; The Pairwise Energy Content Estimated from Amino Acid Composition Discriminates between Folded and Intrinsically Unstructured Proteins; Zsuzsanna Dosztanyi Veronika Csizmόk, Peter Tompa and Istvan Simon, J. Mol. Biol. (2005) 347, 827-839). A predominantly intrinsically unfolded state is assumed when a value> 0.5 is calculated for over 50% of the amino acid residues according to this algorithm (prediction type: long disorder).

(ii) silk proteins

Other suitable proteins for the formulation of active ingredients by means of spinning processes are silk proteins. According to the invention, this refers below to those proteins which contain highly repetitive amino acid sequences and are stored in the animal in a liquid form and whose secretion by shearing or spinning results in fibers (Craig, CL (1997) Evolution of arthropod silks., Annu., Rev. Entomol 42: 231-67).

Particularly suitable proteins for the formulation of active substances by means of spinning processes are spider silk proteins, which could be isolated from spiders in their original form.

M / 49169 Especially suitable proteins are silk proteins which could be isolated from the "major ampullate" gland of spiders.

Preferred silk proteins are ADF3 and ADF4 from the "major ampullate" gland of Araneus diadematus (Guerette et al., Science 272, 5258: 112-5 (1996)).

Likewise suitable proteins for the formulation of active substances by means of spinning processes are natural or synthetic proteins which are derived from natural silk proteins and which have been prepared hologrologically in prokaryotic or eukaryotic expression systems using genetic engineering methods. Non-limiting examples of prokaryotic expression organisms are Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Corynebacterium glutamicum, etc. Nonlimiting examples of eukaryotic expression organisms are yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris and others, filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus nidulans, Trichoderma reesei, Acremonium chrysogenum and others, mammalian cells, such as Heia cells, COS cells, CHO cells and others, insect cells, such as Sf9 cells, MEL cells and others.

Also suitable for the formulation of active ingredients by means of spinning processes are synthetic proteins which are based on repeating units of natural silk proteins. In addition to the synthetic repetitive silk protein sequences, these may additionally contain one or more natural non-repetitive silk protein sequences (Winkler and Kaplan, J Biotechnol 74: 85-93 (2000)).

For the formulation of active ingredients by means of spinning processes, in particular those synthetic spider silk proteins are also useful which are based on repeating units of natural spider silk proteins. In addition to the synthetic repetitive spider silk protein sequences, these may additionally contain one or more natural non-repetitive spider silk protein sequences.

Among the synthetic spider silk proteins, preference is given to the so-called C16 protein (Huemmerich et al., Biochemistry, 43 (42): 13604-13612 (2004)). This protein has the polypeptide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. In addition to the polypeptide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, particularly functional equivalents, functional derivatives and salts of this sequence are also preferred.

M / 49169 Furthermore, for the formulation of active ingredients by means of spinning processes, preference is given to synthetic proteins which are based on repeating units of natural silk proteins combined with sequences of insect structural proteins such as the Resilin (Elvin et al., 2005, Nature 437: 999-1002).

Of these combination proteins of silk proteins and resilins, mention should be made in particular of the R16 and S16 proteins. These proteins have the polypeptide sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 6, respectively.

In addition to the polypeptide sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 and SEQ ID NO: 6, particularly functional equivalents, functional derivatives and salts of these sequences are also preferred.

(iii) modified biopolymers

According to the invention, "functional equivalents" are in particular also understood as meaning mutants which have a different amino acid than the one specifically mentioned in at least one sequence position of the abovementioned amino acid sequences, but nevertheless possess the property of packaging effect substances or multiple amino acid additions, substitutions, deletions and / or inversions of available mutants, said changes may occur in any sequence position, as long as they lead to a mutant with the property profile according to the invention. Functional equivalence is given in particular even if the reactivity patterns between the mutant and the unchanged polypeptide match qualitatively.

"Functional equivalents" in the above sense are also "precursors" of the described polypeptides as well as "functional derivatives" and "salts" of the polypeptides.

"Precursors" are natural or synthetic precursors of the polypeptides with or without the desired biological activity.

Examples of suitable amino acid substitutions are shown in the following table:

M / 49169 Original rest Examples of substitution

AIa Ser

Arg Lys

Asn GIn; His

Asp Glu

Cys Ser

GIn Asn

Giu Asp

GIy Pro

His Asn; Gin

Hey Leu; Val

Leu He; Val

Lys Arg; GIn; Glu

Met Leu; He

Phe Met; Leu; Tyr

Ser Thr

Thr Ser

Trp Tyr

Tyr Trp; Phe

Vai He; Leu

Salts are understood as meaning both salts of carboxyl groups and acid addition salts of amino groups of the protein molecules according to the invention. Sacks of carboxyl groups can be prepared in a manner known per se and include inorganic salts, such as, for example, sodium, calcium and ammonium salts. , Iron and zinc salts, and salts with organic bases, such as amines, such as triethanolamine, arginine, lysine, piperidine, etc. Acid addition salts, such as salts with mineral acids, such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid and salts with organic acids, such as acetic acid and Oxalic acid are also the subject of the invention.

"Functional derivatives" of polypeptides of the invention may also be produced at functional amino acid side groups or at their N- or C-terminal end by known techniques Such derivatives include, for example, aliphatic esters of carboxylic acid groups, amides of carboxylic acid groups obtainable by reaction with ammonia or with a primary or secondary amine; N-acyl derivatives of free amino groups prepared by reaction with acyl groups; or O-acyl derivatives of free hydroxy groups prepared by reaction with acyl groups.

Homologs to the proteins / polypeptides specifically disclosed herein include "functional equivalents." These have at least 60% such as, for example

M / 49169 70, 80 or 85%, such as 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99%, identity to one of the specifically disclosed amino acid sequences.

By "identity" between two sequences is meant, in particular, the identity of the residues over the respective entire sequence length, in particular the identity which is determined by comparison with the aid of the Vector NTI Suite 7.1 (Vector NTI Advance 10.3.0, Vitrogen Corp.) (or Software from Informax (USA) using Clustal

Method (Higgins DG, Sharp PM, Fast and Sensitive Multiple Sequence Alignments on a Microcomputer, Comput Appl. Biosci 1989 Apr; 5 (2): 151-1) is calculated by setting the following parameters:

Multiple alignment parameters:

Gap opening penalty 10

Gap extension penalty 0.05

Gap Separation penalty ranks 8

Gap separation penalty off

% identity for alignment delay 40

Residue specific gaps off

Hydrophilic residues gap off

Transition weighing 0

Pairwise alignment parameter:

FAST algorithm off

K-tuple size 1

Gap penalty 3

Window size 5

Number of best diagonals 5

(iv) formulation of active ingredients

Formulations of active ingredients may be, e.g. using a biopolymer such as an amphiphilic self-assembling protein in a variety of ways. Drugs can be packaged or encapsulated by spinning techniques into protein sheets (e.g., protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens).

M / 49169 The fibers and fabrics of protein-drug combinations can be prepared with all known in the art spinning process from solution or finely divided dispersion (dry spinning, wet spinning) and gel. Particularly suitable are spinning processes from the solution or a finely divided dispersion, among which particularly preferred are centrifugal spinning (rotor spinning) and electrospinning (electrostatic spinning).

In the spinning of proteins to fibers Faserdurchmessem from 10 nm to 100 microns, preferably with a diameter of 50 nm to 10 .mu.m, more preferably from 100 nm to 2 microns, suitable.

In electrospinning (electrostatic spinning), the solution or finely divided dispersion to be formulated in an electric field with the strength between 0.01 to 10 kV / cm, more preferably between 1 and 6 kV / cm and most preferably between 2 and 4 kV / cm, introduced. As soon as the electrical forces exceed the surface tension of the formulation, the mass transport takes place in the form of a jet on the opposite electrode. The solvent evaporates in the interelectrode space and solid of the formulation is then present as fibers on the counter electrode. The spinning electrode may be nozzle or syringe based or have waist geometry. Spinning can be done in both vertical directions (bottom to top and top to bottom) and in horizontal direction.

Another suitable method is centrifuge spinning (rotor spinning). In this process, the formulation or finely divided dispersion is introduced into a field with gravitational forces. For this purpose, the fiber raw material is placed in a container and the container is rotated, wherein the fluidized fiber raw material is discharged by centripetal or centrifugal forces from the container in the form of fibers. The fibers can then be removed by gas flow and combined to form sheets.

The formulation of the active ingredients may be by inclusion in protein sheets made by the methods of the invention (e.g., protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens). This process involves two steps. In the first step, a spinning solution of active ingredient and biopolymer, e.g. amphiphilic self-assembling protein prepared by mixing the components in a common phase. For this, the active ingredient and the protein can pass directly through

Solvent or a solvent mixture are brought into solution. Alternatively M / 49169 For example, the active substance and the protein can first be dissolved in different solvents and the solutions subsequently mixed with one another, so that in turn a common phase is formed. The common phase may also be a molecular disperse phase or a colloidally disperse phase.

In addition, additional materials may be added to the spinning solution, e.g. increase the viscosity of the solution or improve its other processability or preferred structural material properties such. Crystallinities or preferred application properties, e.g. to achieve targeted, delayed or continuous release profiles of the formulated drugs. Preferred additives are water-soluble polymers or, in particular, aqueous polymer dispersions. Suitable amounts of the additives in the spinning solution are> 0.1% by weight, preferably> 0.5% by weight, particularly preferably> 1%, very particularly preferably> 5%.

In addition, substances may be added to the spinning solution or the protein fabrics produced therefrom (for example protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) which may cause the tablets or capsules to be blown up and thus improve dispersion of the protein pellets pressed into the tablets or capsules. Fabrics (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) and the active ingredients contained therein allows.

The dissolution of the active ingredient and the protein in various solvents and the subsequent mixing of both solutions are particularly advantageous if the active ingredient and the protein can not be dissolved in a common solvent or solvent mixture. In this way, colloidally disperse solutions of hydrophobic active ingredients can be prepared by diluting the active ingredient dissolved in a suitable solvent into another solvent in which this active ingredient is insoluble.

Since proteins are generally readily soluble in water, preference is given to working with aqueous solutions. However, mixtures of water and water-miscible organic solvents or the exclusive use of organic solvents are also possible. Examples of suitable, water-miscible solvents are alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and isopropanol, fluorinated alcohols such as hexafluoropropanol and trifluoroethanol, alkanones such as acetone or sulfoxides such as dimethyl sulfoxide or formamides such as dimethylformamide or other organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and acetonitrile or N Methyl 2-pyrrolidone or M / 49169 Formate. In general, it is possible to work with all solvents and solvent mixtures in which the proteins can be dissolved. Examples of suitable solvents are water or water-based buffer systems and salt solutions, fluorinated alcohols such as hexafluoroisopropanol or trifluoroethanol, ionic liquids such as 1-ethyl (3-methyl (imidezole) (EMIM) acetate, aqueous solutions of chaotropic salts such as urea Guanidium hydrochloride and guanidinium thiocyanate or organic acids such as formic acid and mixtures of these solvents with other organic solvents Examples of solvents which can be mixed with the solvents for the protein include water, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and isopropanol, alkanones such as acetone , Sulfoxides such as dimethylsulfoxide, formamides such as dimethylformamide, haloalkanes such as methylene chloride or other organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran.

The second step in the formulation of the drugs is an assembly of the protein, inducing e.g. by evaporation of the solvent, an electric field, by shear forces or centrifugal forces, to a common solid or highly viscous, gel-like phase which subsequently hardens. The active ingredient is included in the assembly form of the protein. The assembled protein structures can be prepared as active ingredient-containing protein sheets (e.g., protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwoven fabrics) and coated on substrates such as e.g. B. microfiber webs are stored. Subsequently, the assembled protein structures can be pressed into tablets or capsules.

The active agent may be bound to the surface, included in the protein sheets (eg, protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwoven fabrics), or both associated with the protein sheets. The binding of the active ingredient to the protein sheets produced by the methods according to the invention can be determined by the depletion of the dissolved substance assembly assembly. The concentration of the active substance can be measured by a quantitative analysis of its properties. For example, the binding of light-absorbing active substances can be analyzed by photometric methods. For this purpose, for example, the color of the protein surfaces (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) or the decolorization of the protein and drug-poor phase of the formulation mixture are determined by measuring the absorption of a colored or light-absorbing active substance. These methods can also be used to determine the proportion of active ingredient in the microbeads. For this purpose, the protein sheets (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) with a for M / 49169 ^ added to the encapsulated drug suitable solvent while the active ingredient dissolved out. Subsequently, the active substance content in the solvent is determined, for example, by absorption photometry. Alternatively, the protein assembly structure can also be degraded by means of proteolytically active enzymes, wherein the active substance contained is released and then quantified.

(v) Synthetic polymer components

Suitable synthetic polymers are, for. B. selected from the group consisting of homo- and copolymers of aromatic vinyl compounds, homopolymers and copolymers of alkyl acrylates, homo- and copolymers of alkyl methacrylates, homopolymers and copolymers of α-olefins, homopolymers and copolymers of aliphatic dienes , Homo- and copolymers of vinyl halides, homo- and copolymers of vinyl acetates, homo- and copolymers of acrylonitriles, homopolymers and copolymers of urethanes, homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl amides and copolymers composed of two or more of the monomer units forming the abovementioned polymers.

Suitable carrier polymers are, in particular, polymers based on the following monomers:

Acrylamide, adipic acid, allyl methacrylate, alpha-methylstyrene, butadiene, butanediol, butanediol dimethacrylate, butanediol divinyl ether, butanediol dimethacrylate, butanediol monoacrylate, butanediol monomethyl ether, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl vinyl ether, diethylene glycol divinyl ether, diethylene glycol monovinyl ether, ethyl acrylate, ethyl diglycol acrylate, ethylene, ethylene glycol butyl vinyl ether, Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol divinyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, ethylhexyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, ethyl vinyl ether, glycidyl methacrylate, hexanediol divinyl ether, hexanediol monovinyl ether, isobutene, isobutyl acrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, isoprene, isopropyl acrylamide, methyl acrylate, methylenebisacrylamide, methyl methacrylate, methyl vinyl ether, n-butyl vinyl ether, NMethyl- N-vinylacetamide, N-vinylcaprolactam, N-vinylimidazole, N-vinylpiperidone, NVinylpyrrolidone, octadecyl vinyl ether, phenoxyethyl acrylate, polytetrahydrofuran-2-divinyl ether, propylene, styrene, Terephthalic acid, tert-butylacrylamide, tert-butyl acrylate, tert-butyl methacrylate, tetraethylene glycol divinyl ether, triethylene glycol divinyl ether, triethylene glycol divinyl methyl ether, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane trivinyl ether, vinyl (2-ethylhexyl) ether, vinyl 4-tert-butyl benzoate, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride , Vinyl dodecyl ether,

M / 49169 Vinylidene chloride, vinyl isobutyl ether, vinyl isopropyl ether, vinyl propyl ether and vinyl tert-butyl ether.

The term "synthetic polymers" encompasses both homopolymers and copolymers Suitable copolymers include both random and alternating systems, block copolymers or graft copolymers The term copolymers encompasses polymers which are composed of two or more different monomers or in which the incorporation of at least one monomer in the polymer chain can be realized in various ways, as is the case, for example, in the stereo block copolymers.

It may also be blends of homopolymers and copolymers. The homo- and copolymers can be miscible and immiscible.

The following polymers are preferably mentioned: polyvinyl ethers such as e.g. Polybenzyloxyethylene, polyvinyl acetals, polyvinyl esters, e.g. Polyvinyl acetate, polyoxytetramethylene, polyamides, polycarbonates, polyesters, polysiloxanes, polyurethanes, polyacrylamides, such as e.g. Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide), polymethacrylamide, polyhydroxybutyrate, polyvinyl alcohols, acetylated polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylformamide, polyvinylamines, polycarboxylic acids (polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid), polyacrylamide, polyitaconic acid, poly (2-hydroxyethyl acrylate), poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) Polysulfonic acid (poly (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) or PAMPS), polymethacrylamide, polyalkylene oxides, e.g. For example, polyethylene oxides; Poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone; Maleic acids, poly (ethyleneimine), polystyrenesulfonic acid, polyacrylates, e.g. Polyphenoxyethyl acrylate, polymethyl acrylate, polyethyl acrylate, polydodecyl acrylate, poly (ibornyl acrylate), poly (n-butyl acrylate), poly (t-butyl acrylate), polycyclohexyl acrylate, poly (2-ethylhexyl acrylate), polyhydroxypropyl acrylate, polymethacrylates, e.g. Polymethyl methacrylate, poly (n-amyl methacrylate), poly (n-butyl methacrylate), polyethyl methacrylate, poly (hydroxypropyl methacrylate), polycyclohexyl methacrylate, poly (2-ethylhexyl methacrylate), polylauryl methacrylate, poly (t-butyl methacrylate), polybenzyl methacrylate, poly (ibornylmethacrylat), polyglycidyl methacrylate and polystearyl methacrylate, polystyrene, and copolymers based on styrene, eg with maleic anhydride, styrene-butadiene copolymers, methyl methacrylate-styrene copolymers, N-vinylpyrrolidone copolymers, polycaprolactones, polycaprolactams, poly (N-vinylcaprolactam).

In particular, poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone, polymethyl methacrylate, acrylate-styrene copolymers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyamide, polyester may be mentioned.

M / 49169 Synthetic, biodegradable polymers are still applicable.

The term "biodegradable polymers" is intended to include all polymers which meet the definition of biodegradability given in DIN V 54900, in particular compostable polyesters.

In general, biodegradability means that the polymers, such as polyesters, decompose in a reasonable and detectable time. The decomposition can take place hydrolytically and / or oxidatively and be effected for the most part by the action of microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeasts, fungi and algae. The biodegradability can be determined, for example, by mixing polyesters with compost and storing them for a certain period of time. According to ASTM D 5338, ASTM D 6400 and DIN V 54900, CO ₂ -free air, for example, is allowed to flow through mature compost during composting and is subjected to a defined temperature program. Here, the biodegradability of the ratio of the net C0 ₂ release of the sample (after deduction of C02 release by the compost without sample) to the maximum CO ₂ release of the sample (calculated from the carbon content of the sample) as biodegradability de - Finished. Biodegradable polyester usually show after a few days of composting significant degradation phenomena such as fungal growth, crack and hole formation. Examples of biodegradable polymers are biodegradable polyesters such as, for example, polylactide, polycaprolactone, polyalkylene adipate repthalates, polyhydroxyalkonates (polyhydroxybutyrate) and polylactide glycoside. Particularly preferred are biodegradable polyalkylene adipate terephthalates, preferably polybutylene nadipate terephthalates. Suitable polyalkylene adipate terephthalates are described, for example, in DE 4 440 858 (and are commercially available, for example Ecoflex® from BASF).

(vi) agents

In the following, the terms active substances and effect substances are used synonymously. These are both water-soluble and difficult-water-soluble effect substances. The terms heavy water-soluble and hydrophobic active or effect substances are used synonymously. As sparingly water-soluble active ingredients are referred to below those compounds whose water solubility at 2O ⁰ C <1 wt .-%, preferably <0.5 wt .-%, more preferably <0.25 wt .-%, most preferably <0 , 1 wt .-% is. As water-soluble agents in the following are such M / 49169 Compounds whose water solubility at 20 ⁰ C> 1 wt .-%, preferably> 10 wt .-%, particularly preferably> 40 wt .-%, most preferably> 70% by weight.

Suitable effect substances are dyes, in particular those mentioned in the following table:

Particularly advantageous dyes are the oil-soluble or oil-dispersible compounds mentioned in the following list. The Color Index Numbers (CIN) are taken from the Rowe Color Index, 3rd Edition, Society of Dyers and Colourists, Bradford, England, 1971.

M / 49169

Further preferred effect substances are fatty acids, in particular saturated fatty acids, which carry an alkyl branching, particularly preferably branched eicosanoic acids, such as 18-methyl-eicosanoic acid.

Further preferred effect substances are carotenoids. According to the invention, carotinoids are to be understood as meaning the following compounds and their esterified or glycosylated derivatives: β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, citraaxanthin, canthaxanthin, bixin, β-apo-4-carotenal, β-apo-8 -carotinal, β-apo-8-carotenoic acid ester, neurospores, echinenone, adonirubin, violaxanthin, torulen, torularyhodine, singly or as a mixture. Preferably used carotenoids are β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin, citranaxanthin and canthaxanthin. M / 49169 Further preferred effect substances are vitamins, in particular retinoids and their esters.

By retinoids in the context of the present invention is meant vitamin A alcohol (retinol) and its derivatives such as vitamin A aldehyde (retinal), vitamin A acid (retinoic acid) and vitamin A esters (e.g., retinyl acetate, retinyl propionate and retinyl palmitate). The term retinoic acid encompasses both all-trans retinoic acid and 13-cis retinoic acid. The terms retinol and retinal preferably include the all-trans compounds. The preferred retinoid used for the formulations according to the invention is all-trans-retinol, hereinafter referred to as retinol.

Further preferred effect substances are vitamins, provitamins and vitamin precursors from groups A, B, C, E and F, in particular 3,4-didehydroretinol, β-carotene (provitamin of vitamin A), palmitic acid ester of ascorbic acid, tocopherols, in particular α- Tocopherol and its esters, eg the acetate, nicotinate, phosphate and succinate; vitamin F, which is understood as meaning essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, linolenic acid and arachidonic acid.

Further preferred effect substances are lipophilic, oil-soluble antioxidants from the group vitamin E, i. Tocopherol and its derivatives, gallic acid esters, flavonoids and carotenoids, and butylhydroxytoluene / anisole.

Another preferred effect substance is lipoic acid and suitable derivatives (salts, esters, sugars, nucleotides, nucleosides, peptides and lipids).

Further preferred effect substances are UV light protection filters. By this are meant organic substances capable of absorbing ultraviolet rays and absorbing the absorbed energy in the form of longer wavelength radiation, e.g. Heat, give it up again.

As oil-soluble UV-B filters, e.g. the following substances are used:

3-benzylidene camphor and its derivatives, e.g. 3- (4-methylbenzylidene) camphor; 4-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, preferably 2-ethylhexyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate, 2-octyl 4- (dimethylamino) benzoate and 4- (dimethylamino) -

M / 49169 benzoesäureamylester; Esters of cinnamic acid, preferably 4-methoxycinnamic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester, 4-propyl methoxycinnamate, isoamyl 4-methoxycinnamate, 4-isopentyl methoxycinnamate, 2-cyano-3-phenylcinnamic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester (tocylenes);

Esters of salicylic acid, preferably 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, 4-isopropylbenzyl salicylate, homomenthyl salicylate; Derivatives of benzophenone, preferably 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4 ¹ -methylbenzophenone, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; Esters of benzalmalonic acid, preferably di-2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxybenzmalonate; Triazine derivatives such as 2,4,6-trianilino (p-carbo-2'-ethyl-1 ^' -hexyloxy) -1, 3,5-triazine (octyl triazone) and dioctyl butamido triazone (Uvasorb® HEB):

Propane-1,3-diones, such as e.g. 1- (4-tert-butylphenyl) -3- (4'-methoxyphenyl) propane-1,3-dione. Especially preferred is the use of esters of cinnamic acid, preferably 4-methoxycinnamic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester, 4-methoxycinnamic acid isopentyl ester, 2-cyano-3-phenylcinnamic acid 2-ethylhexyl ester (octocrylene).

Furthermore, the use of derivatives of benzophenone, in particular 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4 ^{'-methylbenzophenon,} 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, and the use of propane-1, 3-diones, such as 1- (4-tert-butylphenyl) -3- (4-methethoxyphenyl) propane-1,3-dione.

Typical UV-A filters are:

Derivatives of benzoylmethane, such as 1- (4'-tert-butylphenyl) -3- (4'-methoxyphenyl) propane-1,3-dione, 4-tert-butyl-4'-methoxydibenzoylmethane or 1-phenyl -3- (4'-isopropylphenyl) -propane-1,3-dione;

Amino-hydroxy-substituted derivatives of benzophenones, e.g. N, N-diethylamino-hydroxybenzoyl-n-hexylbenzoate.

Of course, the UV-A and UV-B filters can also be used in mixtures.

Suitable UV filter substances are mentioned in the following table.

M / 49169

In addition to the two aforementioned groups of primary light stabilizers, it is also possible to use secondary light stabilizers of the antioxidant type which interrupt the photochemical reaction chain which is triggered when UV radiation penetrates into the skin. Typical examples are tocopherols (vitamin E) and oil-soluble ascorbic acid derivatives (vitamin C).

According to the invention, suitable derivatives (salts, esters, sugars, nucleotides, nucleosides, peptides and lipids) of the compounds mentioned can be used as effect substances.

More preferred are so-called peroxide decomposed, i. Compounds which are able to decompose peroxides, particularly preferably lipid peroxides. By this are meant organic substances, such as e.g. 5-pyrimidinol and 3-pyridinol derivatives and probucol.

Furthermore, the peroxide decomposers mentioned are preferably the substances described in the patent applications WO-A-02/07698 and WO-A03 / 059312, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference, preferably the boron-containing or nitrogen-containing compounds described therein. containing compounds which can reduce peroxides or hydroperoxides to the corresponding alcohols without radical radical formation steps. Furthermore, sterically hindered amines can be used for this purpose.

M / 49169 Another group are anti-irritants, which have an anti-inflammatory effect on UV-damaged skin. Such substances are, for example, bisabolol, phytol and phytantriol.

Another group of effect substances are active substances that can be used in crop protection, for example herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.

The following list of insecticides indicates, but is not limited to, possible crop protection agents:

A.1. Organo (thio) phosphates: azinphos-methyl, chloropyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, chlorophenvinphos, diazinon, disulphoton, ethion, fenitrothion, fenthion, isoxathione, malathion, methidathione, methyl-parathion, oxydemeton-methyl, paraoxone, parathion, phenthoate, phosalone, phosmet, phosphamidone, phorate, phoxim, pirimiphos-methyl, profenofos, prothiofos, sulprophos, tetrachlorvinphos, terbufos, triazophos, trichlorophone;

A.2. Carbamates: alanycarb, bendiocarb, benfuracarb, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbosulphane, fenoxycarb, furathiocarb, methiocarb, methomyl, oxamyl, pirimicarb, thiodicarb, triazamate;

A.3. Pyrethroids: allethrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cyphenothrin, cyper-5-methrin, alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, zeta-cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenvalerate, etofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, imiprothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, prallethrin , pyrethrin I and II, resmethrin, silafluofen, tau-fluvalinate, tefluthrin, tetramethrin, tralomethrin, transfluthrin;

A.4. Growth regulators: a) chitin synthesis inhibitors: benzoylureas: chlorofluorotron, cyramazine, diflubenzuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, teflubenzuron, triflumuron; buprofezin, diofenolan, hexythiazox, etoxazole, clofentazine; b) ecdysone antagonists: halofenozides, methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide, azadirachtin; c) juvenoids: pyriproxyfen, methoprene, fenoxycarb; d) lipid biosynthesis inhibitors: spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, a tetronic acid derivative of formula D1,

M / 49169

A.5. Nicotine receptor agonist antagonists: clothianidin, dinotefuran, thiacloprid;

A.6. GABA antagonists: acetoprole, endosulfan, ethiprole, fipronil, vaniliprole; A.7. Macrolide insecticides: abamectin, emamectin, milbemectin, lepimectin, spinosad;

A.8. MET1 I acaricides: fenazaquin, pyridaben, tebufenpyrad, tolfenpyrad;

A.9. MET1 II and III compound: acequinocyl, fluacyrim, hydramethylnone;

A.10. Decoupler compounds: chlorfenapyr;

A.11. Inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation: cyhexatin, diafenthiuron, fenbutatin oxide, propargite;

A.12. Moulting Compounds: cryomazine;

A.13. Inhibitors of mixed-function oxidase: piperonyl butoxide;

A.14. Sodium channel blocker: indoxacarb, metaflumizone;

A.15. Various: benclothiaz, bifenazate, flonicamid, pyridalyl, pymetrozine, sulfur, thiocyclam and aminoisothiazole compounds of formula D2,

where R ^{1 is} -CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₃ or H and R ^{N is} CF ₂ CF ₂ CF ₃ or CH ₂ CH (CH ₃ ) ₃ , anthranilamide compounds of the formula D3:

M / 49169 where B ^{1 is} hydrogen or chlorine, B ^{2 is} bromine or CF ₃ , and R ^{B is} CH ₃ or CH (CH ₃ ) ₂ , and malononitrile compounds as described in JP 2002 284608, WO 02/189579, WO 02/190320, WO 02/190321, WO 04/106677, WO 04/120399, or JP 2004 99597, N-R'-2,2-dihalo-1R "cyclopropanecarboxamide-2- (2,6-dichloro-α, α, α, α-trifluoro-p-tolyl) hydrazone or N-R'-2,2-di (R " ¹ ) propionamide-2- (2,6-dichloro-α, α, α, α-trifluoro- p-tolyl) hydrazone, wherein R 'is methyl or ethyl, Halo is chloro or bromo, R "is hydrogen or methyl and R" ^{1 is} methyl or ethyl;

The following list of fungicides indicates, but is not limited to, possible drugs:

1. strobilurins azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestroburin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin, orysastrobin, (2-chloro-5- [1- (3-methyl-benzyloxyimino) -ethyl] -benzyl) -carbamic acid methyl ester, methyl (2-chloro-5- [1- (6-methylpyridin-2-ylmethoxyimino) ethyl] benzyl) carbamate, 2- (ortho - ((2,5-dimethylphenyl-oxymethylene) phenyl) -3-methoxy-acrylic acid methyl ester; 2. carboxylic acid amides

- Carboxylic acid anilides: benalaxyl, benodanil, boscalid, carboxin, mepronil, fenfuram, fenhexamide, flutolanil, furametpyr, metalaxyl, ofurace, oxadixyl, oxycarboxine, penthiopyrad, thifluzamide, tiadinil, 4-difluoromethyl-2-methyl-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid ( 4'-bromo-biphenyl-2-yl) -amide, 4-difluoro-2-methyl-triazole-5-carboxylic acid- (4'-trifluoro-methyl-biphenyl-2-yl) -amide, 4-difluoro -2-methyl-triazole-5-carboxylic acid (4'-chloro-3'-fluoro-biphenyl-2-yl) -amide, S-difluoro-i-methyl-pyrazole-M-carboxylic acid-β '' '- dichloro-fluorobiphenyl-2-yl) -amide;

- Carboxylic acid morpholides: Dimethomorph, Flumorph;

Benzoic acid amides: flumetover, fluopicolide (picobenzamide), zoxamide; Other carboxamides: carpropamide, diclocymet, mandipropamide, N- (2- (4- [3- (4-chloro-phenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy] -3-methoxyphenyl) -ethyl) -2-methanesulfonylamino 3-methyl-butyramide, N- (2- (4- [3- (4-chloro-phenyl) -prop-2-ynyloxy] -3-methoxy-phenyl) -ethyl) -2-ethanesulfonyl-amino-3-methyl- butyramide; 3. Azoles - Triazoles: Bitertanol, Bromuconazoles, Cyproconazole, Difenoconazole, Diniconazole, Enilconazole, Epoxiconazole, Fenbuconazole, Flusilazole, Fluquinconazole, Flutria

M / 49169 hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole. triadimenol, triadimefon, triticonazole;

- imidazoles: cyazofamide, imazalil, pefurazoate, prochloraz, triflumizole; Benzimidazoles: benomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazole, thiabendazole;

- Other: Ethaboxam, Etridiazole, Hymexazole;

4. Nitrogen-containing heterocyclyl compounds:

Pyridines: fluazinam, pyrifenox, 3- [5- (4-chlorophenyl) -2,3-dimethylisoxazolidin-3-yl] pyridine; Pyrimidines: bupirimate, cyprodinil, ferimzone, fenarimol, mepanipyrim, nuarimol, pyrimethanil;

- piperazines: triforins;

- Pyrroles: fludioxonil, fenpiclonil;

- Morpholines: aldimorph, dodemorph, fenpropimorph, tridemorph; Dicarboximides: iprodione, procymidone, vinclozolin;

- Other: acibenzolar-S-methyl, anilazine, captan, captafol, dazomet, diclomethine, fenoxanil, folpet, fenpropidin, famoxadone, fenamidone, octhilinone, probenazole, proquinazide, quinoxyfen, tricyclazole, 5-chloro-7- (4-methyl- piperidin-1-yl) -6- (2,4,6-trifluorophenyl) - [1, 2,4] triazolo [1,5-alpirimidine, 2-butoxy-6-iodo-3-propyl-chromene 4-one, 3- (3-bromo-6-fluoro-2-methyl-indole-1-sulfonyl) - [1,2,4] triazole-1-sulfonic acid dimethylamide;

5. carbamates and dithiocarbamates

Carbamates: diethofencarb, flubenthiavalicarb, iprovalicarb, propamocarb, 3- (4-chlorophenyl) -3- (2-isopropoxycarbonylamino-3-methylbutyrylamino) -propionic acid methyl ester, N- (1- (1- (4- cyanophenyl) ethanesulfonyl) -but-2-yl) carbamic acid (4-fluoro-25-phenyl) ester;

6. Other fungicides

Organometallic compounds: fentin salts; Sulfur-containing heterocyclyl compounds: isoprothiolanes, dithianone;

Organophosphorus compounds: edifenphos, fosetyl, fosetyl-aluminum, Iprobenfos, pyrazophos, tolclofos-methyl, phosphorous acid and their salts;

Organochlorine compounds: thiophanates methyl, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid, toluylfluanid, flusulfamides, phthalides, hexachlorobenzene, pencycuron, quintozene; Nitrophenyl derivatives: binapacryl, dinocap, dinobuton;

- Other: Spiroxamine, Cyflufenamid, Cymoxanil, Metrafenone. M / 49169 The following list of herbicides indicates, but is not limited to:

Compounds that inhibit the biosynthesis of lipids, e.g. Chlorazifop, Clodina-fop, Clofop, Cyhalofop, Ciclofop, Fenoxaprop, Fenoxaprop-p, Fenthiaprop, Fluazifop, Fluazifop-P, Haloxyfop, Haloxyfop-P, Isoxapyrifop, Metamifop, Propaquizafop, Quizalofop, Quizalofop-P, Trifop, or their esters, butroxydim, cycloxydim, profoxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim, butylates, cycloate, dialkylate, dimepiperate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethiolates, isopolinates, methiobencarb, molinates, orbencarb, pebulates, prochlorocarb, sulfolate, thiobencarb, thiocarbazil, triallate Vernolat, Benfuresat, Ethofu-5 mesate and Bensulid;

ALS-I inhibitors such as amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, chlorimuron, chlorosulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsulfuron, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron,

Flupyrsulfuron, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, lodosulfuron, mesosulfuron, metsulfuron, nicosulfuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron, prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron, thifensulfuron, triasulfuron, tribenuron,

Trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron, tritosulfuron, imazamethabenz, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, cloransulam, diclosulam, florasulam, flumetsulam, metosulam, penoxsulam, bispyribac, pyriminobac, propoxycarbazone, flucarba- zone, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid and pyrithiobac; if the pH is 8 <;

Compounds which inhibit photosynthesis, such as Atraton, Atrazine, Ametryne, Aciptrotne, Cyanazine, Cyanatryn, Chlorazine, Cyprazine, Desmetryne, Dimethametryne, Dipropetryn, Eglinazine, Ipazine, Mesoprazine, Methometon, Methoprotryne, Procyazine, Proglinazine, Prometon , Prometryne, Propazine, Sebuthylazine, Secbumetone, Simazine, Simeton, Simetryne, Terbumeton, Terbuthylazine and Terbutryne;

Protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase inhibitors such as acifluorfen, bifenox, chlomethoxyfen, chlornitrofen, ethoxyfen, fluorodifene, fluoroglycofen, fluoronitrofen, fomesafen, furyloxyfen, halosafen, lactofen, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen, oxyfluorfen, fluazolates, pyrafluids, cinidon-ethyl, flumiclorac , Flumioxazine, flumipropyne, fluthiacet, thidiazimine, oxadiazone, oxadiargyl, azafenidine, carfentrazone, sulfentrazone, pentoxazone, benzfendizone, butafenacil, pyraclonil, profluazole, flufenpyr, flupropacil, nipyraclofen and etnipromide;

M / 49169 Herbicides such as metflurazon, norflurazon, flufenican, diflufenican, picolinafen, beflubutamide, fluridone, flurochloridone, flurtamone, mesotrione, sulcotrione, isoxachlorotole, isoxaflutole, benzofenap, pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, benzobicyclone, amitrole, cloma- zone, aclonifen, 4- (3 -trifluoromethylphenoxy) - 2- (4-trifluoromethylphenyl) pyrimidine, and 3-heterocyclyl-substituted benzoyl derivatives of the formula (see WO-A-96/26202, WO-A-97/41116, WO-A-97/41117 and WO -A-97/41118)

wherein the substituents R ⁸ to R ^{13 have the} following meaning:

R ^8, R ¹⁰ is hydrogen, halogen, C _r C ₅ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₅ -HaIOaIkVl ₁ Ci-C ₅ alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio CRCS, C ^ Cs-alkylsulfinyl or CRC-alkylsulfonyl;

R ^{9 represents} a heterocyclic radical selected from the group consisting of thiazol-2-yl, thiazol-4-yl, thiazol-5-yl, isoxazol-3-yl, isoxazol-4-yl, isoxazol-5-yl, 4,5 dihydroisoxazol-3-yl, 4,5-dihydroisoxazol-4-yl and 4,5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl, wherein said radicals may carry one or more substituents, for example mono-, di-, tri or tetrasubstituiert sein may be prepared by halogen, -C ₄ alkyl, C ₁ -C ₄ -alkoxy, C ₁ -C ₄ -HaIOaIkVl, C ₁ - C ₄ haloalkoxy or C ₁ -C ₄ -alkylthio; R ¹¹ = hydrogen, halogen or C ₁ -C ₅ -A ^ yI; R ¹² = C ₁ -C ₆ -alkyl;

R ¹³ = hydrogen or C ₁ -C ₆ -A ^ yI ₁ if the pH is <8; Mitosis inhibitors such as Benfluralin, Butraline, Dinitramine, Ethalfluralin, Fluchloralin, i-Sopropalin, Methalpropalin, Nitralin, Oryzalin, Pendimethalin, Prodiamine, Profluralin, Trifluralin, Amiprofos-methyl, Butamifos, Dithiopyr, Thiazopyr, Propyzamide, Chlorthal, Carbetamide, Chlorpropham and propham;

VLCFA inhibitors such as acetochlor, alachlor, butachlor, butenachlor, delachlor, diethyl, dimethachlor, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, metazachlor, metolachlor, SMetolachlor, pretilachlor, propisochlor, prynachlor, terbuchlor, thenylchlorine, xylachlor, CDEA, Epronaz, Diphenamid, napropamide, naproanilide, pethoxamide, flufenacet, mefenacet, fentrazamide, anilofos, piperophos, cafenstrole, indanofan and tridiphan;

M / 49169 Cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors such as dichlobenil, chlorthiamide, isoxaben and flupoxam;

Herbicides such as dinofenate, dinoprop, dinosam, dinoseb, dinoterb, DNOC, etinofen and medinoterb;

also: benzoylprop, flamprop, flamprop-M, bromobutide, chlorofluorol, cin-methylin, methyldymron, etobenzanide, pyributicarb, oxaziclomefone, triaziflam and methyl bromide.

Substances used in crop protection can also be used to combat pests (eg cockroaches, ants, termites, etc.) in urban areas (eg housing estates, home and garden areas, restaurants, parks, hotel complexes, industrial areas, etc.) and are especially suitable for these applications Group of suitable effect substances.

It is also possible to formulate active substances for controlling vertebrate pests (for example rats, mice and the like) using the methods according to the invention and to use the resulting active compound preparations for the corresponding pest control in agricultural and urban areas.

Also suitable are active ingredients for pharmaceutical use, in particular those for oral administration. In principle, the method according to the invention can be applied to any desired number of active substances independently of the medical indication.

Particular mention should be made of water-soluble active substances for pharmaceutical use, in particular those for oral administration. This applies to both prescription and non-prescription drugs. The invention is in principle applicable to a variety of therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agents, regardless of the medical indication. Non-limiting examples of applicable classes of agents include anti-inflammatory agents, vasoactive agents, anti-infective agents, anesthetizing agents, growth-promoting agents. Basic applicable classes of compounds are proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, mono-, di-, oligo- and polysaccharides, proteoglycans, lipids, low molecular weight synthetic or natural organic active substances, or inorganic

Compounds or elements, such as silver. M / 49169 Non-limiting examples of suitable sparingly water-soluble pharmaceutical agents are listed in the following table.

Examples of water-soluble pharmaceutical agents are, in particular cough and expectorant agents, such. B. guaiacol glycol ether (also called guaifenesin) and its derivatives.

Other preferred pharmaceutical agents are antibodies and other proteins used in pharmacy, e.g. As enzymes or peptides, or nucleic acids.

(vii) drug release from the formulations

The release of the active compounds from the formulations prepared by the processes according to the invention can be achieved by desorption into suitable solvents, by degradation of the biopolymer fabrics according to the invention (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) by proteases or by dissolving the biopolymer Fabrics (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) are made by suitable solvents. Suitable solvents for the desorption are all solvents or solvent mixtures in which the active ingredient can be dissolved. Suitable proteases may be added as engineering proteases to a suspension of the biopolymer sheets of the present invention (e.g., protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwoven fabrics), or naturally occurring at the desired site of action of the effector molecules, e.g. Proteases of the digestive tract, e.g. Gastric or intestinal proteases or proteases released by microorganisms. Solvents capable of dissolving the biopolymer sheets of the present invention are e.g. fluorinated alcohols such as e.g. Hexafluori-

M / 49169 ^ sopropanol or trifluoroethanol, ionic liquids such as EMIM acetate, aqueous solutions of chaotropic salts such as urea, guanidinium hydrochloride and guanidinium thiocyanate or organic acids such as formic acid and mixtures of these solvents with other organic solvents. The speed and the kinetics of the release of the effector molecules can be controlled, for example, by the loading density with active substances and the size of the biopolymer fabrics according to the invention or their ratio of volume to the surface.

Another object of the invention is the use of the protein-containing fabrics produced using the described amphiphilic self-assembling proteins (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) for storage, transport or release of active ingredients in pharmaceutical products, cosmetic Products, crop protection products, food and feed. The fabrics according to the invention furthermore serve to protect the packaged active ingredients from environmental influences, such as e.g. oxidative processes or UV radiation, or destruction by reaction with other constituents of the products or degradation by certain proteases. The active ingredient may be released from the proteinaceous sheets by desorption, proteolytic degradation, targeted release, or slow release or combination of these mechanisms.

Preferred are the proteinaceous sheets of the invention (e.g., protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwoven fabrics) and drugs formulated therewith in pharmaceutical products for oral ingestion. In this case, the stability of the active substances in gastric passage can be increased because under the prevailing conditions there is no proteolytic degradation of the inventive fabrics. The release of the active ingredients from the per se incorporated drug-containing protein fabrics, which may also be pressed into tablets or capsules, then takes place in the intestine. However, a release of the active ingredients under standard conditions can be effected by desorption or diffusion.

In pharmaceutical products, foodstuffs and crop protection products, formulation of active ingredients with the methods according to the invention using the biopolymers described, in particular amphiphilic, self-assembling proteins, can furthermore lead to increased bioavailability of the active ingredients. The packaging of pharmaceutical agents in protein sheets may further lead to improved uptake via the intestinal mucosa. Plant M / 49169 Zen protection products can be protected from being washed out by encapsulation or embedding in protein sheets. Certain drug particle sizes which are better absorbed or resorbed or better bioavailable may be adjusted by packaging into protein sheets.

By varying the amino acid sequence of the amphiphilic self-assembling proteins described, or by fusing with additional protein or peptide sequences, it is possible to generate structures which have certain surfaces, e.g. Skin, hair, leaves, roots or intestinal or blood vessel surfaces, specifically recognize or be recognized and bound by these surfaces or the receptors contained.

This makes it possible to more effectively bring the active ingredients formulated with the described amphiphilic self-assembling proteins to the desired site of action or to improve the absorption of active substance. The bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients in food and feed can be increased if they are packaged in protein sheets (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) which additionally fuses or associates with proteins present, which bind to certain surface markers (eg receptors) of cells of the gastrointestinal tract (eg Mucosazellen). Such proteins are e.g. the MapA protein or the collagen-binding protein CnBP from Lactobacillus reuteri (Miyoshi et al., 2006, Biosci Biotechnol.Biochem. 70: 1622-1628) or functionally comparable proteins from other microorganisms, especially the natural gastrointestinal flora. The described binding proteins mediate attachment of the microorganisms to cell surfaces. By coupling or fusing the binding proteins to the described amphiphilic self-assembling proteins, resulting protein-containing protein sheets would be directed more targeted to appropriate sites or dwell longer at these locations, resulting in a prolonged and improved drug release and -aufnähme result ,

Furthermore, by varying the amino acid sequence of the amphiphilic self-assembling proteins described for the active ingredient formulation or by fusing with additional protein or peptide sequences, it is possible to target active ingredients to desired sites of action, in order to produce e.g. a higher specificity, lower drug consumption or drug dose to achieve a faster or stronger effect.

M / 49169 In addition, additional materials can be added to the spinning solution in order to later influence (eg inhibit) crystallization of the active ingredient in the fabrics or to achieve preferred application properties, such as altered bioavailability. Preferred additives are, for example, ionic (cationic or anionic) and nonionic surfactants. Suitable amounts of the additives in the spinning solution are 0.01% by weight to 5% by weight.

In addition, substances may be added to the spinning solution or to the fabrics produced therefrom which allow the tablets or capsules to be blown up and thus improved dispersion of the biopolymer fabrics compressed into the tablets or capsules.

(viii) fibrous webs (nonwovens) for wound treatment and personal care

The nonwovens according to the invention can be combined with wound treatment products or personal care products known per se, ie incorporated into or applied to these. Conventional wound dressings, such. As gauze or nonwoven or Saugkompressen are usually woven or nonwoven fabric made of cotton, viscose or synthetic fibers, such as polyamide, polyethylene or polypropylene. These can be impregnated with hydrophobic fatty ointments and exhibit high absorbency, which promotes the discharge of excess wound exudate, tissue debris and bacteria.

However, a frequent dressing change is necessary and sometimes a drying of the wound is observed. This can lead to the adhesion of the wound with dried wound secretion or to the ingrowth of young epithelial tissue into the compress. The dressing change leads in this case to renewed lesions, which significantly delay the healing process.

Modern dressings should therefore provide an ideal moist wound environment. The materials employed should be capable of taking up large amounts of moisture upon gelation, e.g. in the case of polyacrylates and alginates, hydrocolloid products based on carboxymethyl cellulose are the case or. Due to their high suction capacity, these products are primarily used for moderately to heavily nasal wounds. When drying and in the case of necrotic wounds, these requirements can stick together and it is due to the large shrinkage

M / 49169 the danger that the wound will be traumatized again by tearing off the underlying tissue.

There is an extensive range of wound materials and concepts for controlling wound healing described, which, however, are very specific to particular applications and largely adapted to a clinical application. As a rule, so-called sandwich dressings with the desired property profile are provided; thus, the first layer is usually composed of a non-adherent layer (e.g., polyurethane-based foams or gauze) and a second layer having a high absorption capacity for wound exudate, e.g. Zellulosekompressen.

The nonwovens according to the invention are now an inexpensive, easily drapeable product which can be used as a healing-promoting textile separating layer to the wound, which allows the diffusion of oxygen and wound secretions due to their porosity, but elastically seals the wound and absorbs it during healing becomes.

The materials according to the invention can also be used for simpler wound care and can dispense with the use of multi-layer, cost-intensive dressings.

Particular advantages of fibrous webs of the invention, such as biocompatibility, ductility, non-toxicity, biological (especially proteolytic) degradability, good moisture regulation, make them suitable candidates for the manufacture of products for the treatment of chronic or non-chronic wounds and personal care.

Non-active or active ingredient-containing fiber fabrics produced according to the invention are particularly suitable for the production of wound care products and hygiene articles. There they can be used as such or applied to a suitable, known per se textile fabrics or polymeric support materials.

For this purpose, different materials can be combined in a conventional manner and processed into multilayer products. Depending on the intended use, materials such as PE films, PET films or PU films and aluminum composite films, nonwovens, substrates, silicone papers, laminates etc. can be combined with the fiber fabric according to the invention. M / 49169 In the case of the production of the biopolymer fabrics according to the invention containing medications (eg wound dressings or patches) or hygiene products (wipes, diapers, sanitary napkins, etc.) or the use of the biopolymer nonwovens according to the invention in corresponding applications may as carrier substrate or as a carrier for the fabric the medicament or hygiene product to be coated itself or parts or individual layers thereof are used.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the following nonlimiting examples.

EXPERIMENTAL PART

General part:

a) electrospinning process

The device suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention for electrospinning comprises a syringe provided at its tip with a capillary nozzle connected to one pole of a voltage source for receiving the formulation according to the invention. Opposite the outlet of the capillary nozzle, a square counterelectrode connected to the other pole of the voltage source is arranged at a defined distance, which acts as a collector for the fibers formed.

Another possible device for carrying out the method according to the invention comprises a roller which rotates in a container with spinning solution. The roller may be smooth or a physical structuring, e.g. Have needles or grooves. The spinning solution gets into the strong electric field with each rotation of the roller and several streams of material are formed. The counter electrode is located above the spinning electrode. The fibers are applied to a carrier web, e.g. Polypropylene deposited.

For example, a Nanospider Elmarco apparatus can be used. The voltage is about 82 kV with an electrode distance of 18 cm. The

Temperature is about 23 ⁰ C and the relative humidity 35%. It becomes a M / 49169 ^ serrated electrode used for spinning. In order to achieve as thick a protein sheet as possible (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens), the carrier fleece is left stationary. Alternatively, however, the carrier web can also be moved under feed in order to achieve defined thinner protein-sheet layers. The protein sheets obtained from the batch (eg protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) are then dried overnight at 40 ^° C. under reduced pressure. The layer thickness of the protein sheets is determined using the Coating Thickness Gauge Millitron (company: Mahr Feinprüf, Germany).

b) drug release experiments

The release of active ingredients from the protein sheets was examined in two different approaches. Per-oral drug formulations, eg, guaiacol glyceryl ether and clotrimazole (compressed to tablets), were dissolved in artificial gastric juice (0.1 g NaCl, 0.16 g pepsin, 0.35 ml HCl to 50 ml, pH 1-2). and artificial intestinal juice (dissolve 3.4 g KH ₂ PO ₄ in 12.5 ml water + 3.85 ml 0.2N NaOH make up to 25 ml + 0.5 g pancreatin make up to 50 ml, pH 6.8), to simulate the drug release under proteolytically active conditions in the digestive tract. Control preparations (without proteases) were carried out in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0), whereby only a small release of active substance should be observed under these conditions. Per tablet, 20 ml of the respective digestive juice or buffer were added and the batches incubated at 37 ⁰ C and 80 rpm gently shaking. At various times, 500 μl each sample are taken for a drug quantification by means of HPLC or photometer. In order to detect active ingredient aggregates formed after release with poorly water-soluble active substances, eg clotrimazole, the absorption photometric quantification after extraction with THF (3 ml supernatant + 3 ml THF + spatula tip NaCl, vigorous vortexing, 15 min. se measured, dilute if necessary) performed.

In the case of other active substances (pharmaceutical or other, for example, cosmetic or pesticidal active substances taken up orally), eg Uvinul A + and Metazachlor, the release analysis was carried out by displacing defined amounts of protein-active substance with unspecific proteinase K solution. The protein M / 49169 Drug sheets were incubated in 0.25-0.5% [w / v] proteinase K (Roche, Germany; dissolved in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer) shaking at 120-150 rpm. At various times, the still intact protein-drug sheets were separated by centrifugation, the supernatants with a 4-5-fold excess of THF and the drug content then determined by absorption photometry. For all batches, the amounts of active substance released were determined after comparison with a drug-specific calibration series.

Example 1 - Preparation of the C16 spider silk protein

The preparation of the C16 spider silk protein was carried out biotechnologically using plasmid-containing Escherichia coli expression strains. Design and cloning of the C16 spider silk protein (also called ADF4) are described in Hümmerich et al. (Biochemistry 43, 2004, 13604-13012). In contrast to the method described there, C16 spider silk protein was produced in E. coli strain BL21 Gold (DE3) (Stratagene). Cultivation is carried out in Techfors fermenters (Infors HAT, Switzerland) using a minimal medium and fed-batch techniques.

Minimal medium: 2.5 g / l citric acid monohydrate 4 g / l glycerol

12.5 g / l potassium dihydrogen phosphate 6.25 g / l ammonium sulfate

1.88 g / l magnesium sulfate heptahydrate

0.13 g / l calcium chloride dihydrate 15.5 ml / l trace element solution (40 g / l citric acid monohydrate;

11 g / l zinc (II) sulfate heptahydrate; 8.5 g / l of diammonium (II) sulfate heptahydrate; 3 g / l manganese (II) sulfate monohydrate; 0.8 g / l copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate; 0.25 g / l cobalt (II) sulphate heptahydrate) 3 ml / l vitamin solution (6.3 mg / ml thiamine hydrochloride, 0.67 mg / ml

Vitamin B12) pH 6.3

Feed solution: 790 g / l glycerol 6.9 g / l citric acid monohydrate

13.6 g / l sodium sulfate

1.05 g / l diammonium iron (II) sulfate heptahydrate M / 49169 13 mg / l thiamine hydrochloride

The cells were grown at 37 ° C to an OD ₆₀₀ of 100, followed by induction of protein expression with 0.1 mM isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). At the end of the fermentation (8 to 12 hours after induction), the cultures were harvested. The main part of the protein was in "inclusion bodies".

After cell harvest, the pellet was resuspended in 2OmM 3 - (- N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid (MOPS) pH 7.0 (5L buffer per kilogram wet weight). Subsequently, cell digestion was carried out using a Micofluidizer M-110EH (Microfluidics, US) at pressures of 1200 to 1300 bar. After sedimentation, the pellet, after disruption, contained cell debris and membrane constituents in addition to the inclusion bodies, which were removed by two washes In a first washing step, the pellet was suspended in 2.5 volumes of Tris buffer (50 mM Tris / HCl, 0.1 % Triton X-100, pH 8.0) and then the remaining solid was sedimented by centrifugation A second washing step was carried out using Tris buffer (50 mM Tris / HCl, 5 mM EDTA, pH 8.0) Once again pellet obtained after sedimentation was almost free of membrane and cell debris.

The purified "inclusion bodies" were dissolved in guanidinium thiocyanate (Roth, Germany), wherein per 1 g pellet (wet weight) 1, 6 g of guanidinium thiocyanate was added. The "inclusion bodies" dissolved with stirring at gentle heating (5O ⁰ C). To separate off any non-soluble constituents, a centrifugation was then carried out. To obtain an aqueous C16 spider silk protein solution, dialysis was then carried out for 16 hours against 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) (dilution factor of dialysis: 200).

Contaminating E. coli proteins formed aggregates on dialysis, which could be separated by centrifugation. The resulting protein solution had a purity of ~95% C16 spider silk protein.

The resulting aqueous protein solution can either be used directly for electrospinning or further processed to protein microbeads for better shelf life. To prepare C16 protein microbeads, the aqueous C16 spider silk protein solution is added with 0.25 volume of a 4 molar ammonium sulfate solution. Under the influence of the ammonium sulfate, the protein moieties

M / 49169 Nomere to spherical structures, which are referred to here as microbeads. The microbeads were separated by centrifugation, washed three times with distilled water and then freeze-dried.

Example 2 - Formulation of guaiacol glyceryl ether as effect substance by means of electrospinning

In order to demonstrate the usability of the process described for the formulation of pharmaceutically active substances, in particular those for the treatment of cough and respiratory diseases, the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether (also guaifenesin) was exemplified by electrospinning in C16 spider silk protein sheets (eg Protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens) encapsulated.

For the preparation of a spinnable solution, C16-spider silk protein microbeads (14% [w / w]) and the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether (10% [w / w]) were dissolved together in formic acid (98-100% p.a.). 200 ml of formic acid were introduced into a beaker and then successively 50.4 g of C16 spider silk protein and 36 g of guaiacol glyceryl ether (from Sigma, Germany) were stirred in. After the substances were completely dissolved, the solution was made up to 360 g with formic acid (98-100%).

Alternatively, aqueous C16 spider silk protein solution (see Example 1) can also be used as the starting material base. The active ingredient is then dissolved directly in the aqueous protein solution or pre-dissolved using higher concentrations of active ingredient in an alternative solvent (e.g., formic acid) and then mixed with the protein solution. In order to increase the viscosity of the spinning solution, it is then additionally possible to admix water-soluble polymers or aqueous polymer dispersions.

The solution of C16 spider silk protein and guaiacol glyceryl ether was spun for three hours in a Nanospider Elmarco apparatus as described above. The layer thickness of the resulting protein sheets was determined using the Coating Thickness Gauge Millitron (company: Mahr Feinprüf, Germany) and was 0.01-0.2 mm.

The electron microscopic analysis of the C16-

Spider silk protein sheet with enclosed guaiacol glyceryl ether M / 49169 showed that they are mainly fibers with a diameter of up to 2 microns and below (Figure 1).

In contrast to the pure guaiacol glyceryl ether, no crystalline peaks show up in the C16-spider silk protein / guaiacol glyceryl ether formulation in the X-ray diffraction (FIG. 2). Accordingly, it can be assumed that the active substance was amorphous or encapsulated as a solid solution, which can positively influence its bioavailability.

In order to check the release of active ingredient from a form of application that is as relevant as possible, tablets were pressed from the C16 spider silk protein sheets. In each case, 300 mg of material were pressed under vacuum and 100 bar pressure for about 10 minutes in a KBr press (company: Paul-Otto-Weber, Germany). The tablets had a diameter of about 13 mm and a thickness of about 2 mm.

The release of guaiacol glyceryl ether from the tablets after treatment with artificial gastric juice and artificial intestinal juice by HPLC (column: Luna C8 (2), 150 * 3, 0mm [Phenomenex, Germany]; precolumn: C18 ODS; detection: UV 210nm, eluent A: 10 mM KH ₂ PO ₄ , pH 2.5; eluent B: acetonitrile). While in the control batches (buffer) only a maximum of 20% of the encapsulated drug amount are released, controlled in the gastric and intestinal juice by the existing enzymatic activities (proteases) a 100% release within 24 h achieved (Figure 3). In both gastric and intestinal juices, the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether is released continuously. In the first 8 h, about 65% of the active substance is released in the batches with intestinal juice, while in the gastric juice about 80% of the active substance is already released in this time span (FIG. 3).

In order to determine the proportion of guaiacol glyceryl ether which had not yet been released from the formulation after 24 h, the batches with the remaining C16 spider silk protein aggregates were adjusted to pH 7.0, 100 μl proteinase K (435 U / ml, Roche, Germany) added and the batches at 37 ⁰ C and 120 upm further incubated until the complete dissolution of all aggregates. Subsequently, the active substance content in solution was quantified by means of HPLC analysis. From the final value and the previously determined intermediate values, it was possible to determine the loading density of the C16 spider silk protein formulation with the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether. The loading density was between all tested tablets

M / 49169 31 and 33% [w / w], which resulted in an average loading density of the tablet-compressed C16 spider silk protein sheet with 32.2% [w / w] guaiacol glyceryl ether (Table 1).

Tab. 1: Loading densities of the C16 spider silk protein formulation (tablets) with the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether.

Control mixtures with a formulated reference sample of the active substance guaiacol Glyceryl Ether (tablets the trademark Mucinex ^®, Fa. Adams Respiratory Therapeutics) show a continuous, delayed release of active ingredient only under gastric conditions (Figure 4). With an average stomach residence time of the active ingredient formulation of 2-5 hours, a maximum of 50% active ingredient would be released at this time. Under intestinal conditions about 90% of the active ingredient within a short time (2-3 hours) from the Mucinex ^® formulation released (Figure 4).

Due to the position shown in Figure 4 experimental results it can be concluded that there is no longer continuous, delayed guaiacol Glyceryl Ether release and therefore also its consumption at Mucinex ^® tablets under intestinal conditions and is thus lost a large part of the active substance over excretion processes. On the other hand, C16-spider silk protein formulations according to the invention of the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether show, under gastric conditions and also under intestinal conditions, a continuous, delayed release which would promote a longer-lasting uptake of active ingredient. Accordingly, formulations of the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether with amphiphilic self-assembling proteins would be significantly more universally applicable and allow even after gastric passage still continuous, delayed drug release and then drug uptake.

Example 3 - Formulation of clotrimazole as effect substance by means of electrospinning

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To demonstrate the utility of the described process for the formulation of other pharmaceutically active, especially poorly water soluble, substances, for example, the active ingredient clotrimazole was encapsulated by electrospinning in C16 spider silk protein sheets (e.g., protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens).

For the preparation of a spinnable solution, C16 spider silk protein microbeads (14% [w / w]) and the active ingredient guaiacol glyceryl ether (10% [w / w]) were dissolved in formic acid (98-100% p.a.). 200 ml of formic acid were placed in a beaker and then successively stirred 50.4 g of C16 spider silk protein and 36 g of clotrimazole (Sigma, Germany). After the substances were completely dissolved, the solution was made up to 360 g with formic acid.

Alternatively, water-soluble C16 spider silk protein solution (see Example 1) can also be used as starting material base. The active ingredient is then dissolved directly in the aqueous protein solution or, if higher active ingredient concentrations are used, predissolved in an alternative solvent (for example formic acid) and then mixed with the protein solution. In order to increase the viscosity of the spinning solution, it is then additionally possible to admix water-soluble polymers or polymer dispersions.

The solution of C16 spider silk protein and clotrimazole was spun for three hours in a Nanospider Elmarco apparatus as described above.

Electron microscopic analysis of the C 16 spider silk protein sheets with clotrimazole thus obtained showed that they are mainly fibers with a diameter of about 50 nm up to 1 μm (FIG. 5).

In contrast to the pure clotrimazole, no crystalline peaks show up in the C16-spider silk protein / clotrimazole formulation in the X-ray diffraction (FIG. 6). Accordingly, it can be assumed that the active substance was amorphous or encapsulated as a solid solution, which can positively influence its bioavailability.

As already described in Example 2, the C16 spider silk protein

Sheets with encapsulated drug pressed clotrimazole tablets. To the M / 49169 To determine release kinetics of the active ingredient were as described in Example 2, the tablets in artificial gastric juice, artificial intestinal juice and 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer (control) incubated. The quantification of the liberated clotrimazole was due to its poor water solubility (and thus tendency to Aggre- gatbildung in aqueous systems) after extraction of the supernatant with THF by absorption photometric determination at 262 nm.

While in the control batch (buffer without proteases) only a maximum of 2% of the encapsulated amount of active substance is released, in gastric juice controlled by the existing enzymatic activity (proteases) about 50% release within 24 h is achieved (FIG. 7). The active substance clotrimazole is released continuously. In intestinal juice, however, only about 20% of the active ingredient is released after 24 h (FIG. 7). The C16 spider silk protein / clotrimazole formulation appears to be so stable under the more predominantly neutral pH values over the time range considered that only a weaker release is observed.

In order to determine the proportion of clotrimazole not yet released after 24 h from the formulation, the batches containing the non-proteolytically degraded C16 spider silk protein sheets were mixed with 3 ml of THF and incubated for max. 48 further shaking incubated. Subsequently, the active ingredient content was quantified by absorption photometry at 262 nm. From the final value and the previously determined intermediate values, it was possible to determine the loading density of the C16 spider silk protein formulation with the active ingredient clotrimazole. The loading density was between 27 and 33% [w / w] for all tablets examined, which resulted in an average loading density of the tablet-compressed C16 spider silk protein sheet with about 30% [w / w] clotrimazole (Table 2).

Tab. 2: Loading densities of the C16 spider silk protein formulation (tablets) with the active ingredient clotrimazole.

M / 49169 Example 4 - Formulation of metazachlor as effect substance by means of electrospinning

To demonstrate the utility of the described process for the formulation of crop protection actives, for example, the active ingredient metazachlor was encapsulated by electrospinning in C16 spider silk protein sheets (e.g., protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens).

For the preparation of a spinnable solution, C16-spider silk protein microbeads (14% [w / w]) and the active ingredient metazachlor (10% [w / w]) were dissolved together in formic acid (98-100% p.a.). 200 ml of formic acid were placed in a beaker and then successively stirred 50.4 g of C16 spider silk protein and 36 g of metazachlor. After the substances were completely dissolved, the solution was made up to 360 g with formic acid (98-100%).

Alternatively, aqueous C16 spider silk protein solution (see Example 1) can also be used as starting material base. The active ingredient is then dissolved directly in the aqueous protein solution or pre-dissolved using higher concentrations of active ingredient in an alternative solvent (e.g., formic acid) and then mixed with the protein solution. In order to increase the viscosity of the spinning solution, it is then additionally possible to admix water-soluble polymers or polymer dispersions.

The solution of C16 spider silk protein and metazachlor was spun for three hours in a Nanospider Elmarco apparatus as described above.

Electron microscopic analysis of the C16 spider silk protein sheets with metazachlor thus prepared showed that they are mainly fibers with a diameter of about 50 nm up to 500 nm (FIG. 8).

Pure metazachlor shows strongly crystalline fractions in X-ray diffraction (FIG. 9). In contrast, the X-ray diffraction C16 spider silk protein / metazachlor formulation has less pronounced semi-crystalline regions due to the active ingredient metazachlor (Figure 9).

To determine the loading density with the active ingredient metazachlor were in two

Batches (1st batch: 25 mg, 2nd batch: 26 mg) the prepared spider silk protein M / 49169 5 /

2 ml of THF are added to each area and shaken for 5 h at 1800 rpm. The active ingredient metazalactor dissolved quantitatively by the THF treatment was then determined by absorption photometry at 264 nm. It was found that in approach 1 a loading density of about 40% [w / w], in the second approach of about 45% [w / w] was present.

To determine the release kinetics of the drug, the C16 spider silk protein sheets were incubated with encapsulated metazachlor in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer supplemented with 0.5% [w / v] proteinase K. The quantification of the liberated metazachlor was carried out after separation of the still intact C16 spider silk protein sheets by extraction of the supernatant with THF and subsequent absorption photometric determination at 264 nm.

While in the control batch (buffer without proteinase K) only about 10% of the encapsulated amount of active substance was released after 24 h, the release of about 55% metazachlor in the same time span could be achieved in the proteinase K-containing batch (FIG. 10). After 7 days, about 70% continuous drug release could be achieved from such a C16 spider silk protein / metazachlor formulation (not shown).

Example 5 - Formulation of Uvinul A + as effect substance by means of electrospinning

To demonstrate the utility of the described process for the formulation of cosmetic actives, for example, the active ingredient Uvinul A + was electrospun encapsulated in C16 spider silk protein sheets (e.g., protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens).

For the production of a spinnable solution, C16-spider silk protein microbeads (14% [w / w]) and the active ingredient Uvinul A + (10% [w / w]) were dissolved together in formic acid (98-100% p.a.). 200 ml of formic acid were placed in a beaker and then successively stirred 50.4 g of C16 spider silk protein and 36 g of Uvinul A +. After the substances were completely dissolved, the solution was made up to 360 g with formic acid (98-100%).

Alternatively, aqueous C16 spider silk protein solution (see Example 1) can also be used as starting material base. The active ingredient is then directly in the aqueous

Protein solution dissolved or when using higher concentrations of active ingredient in an age M / 49169 ^ native solvent (eg, formic acid) pre-dissolved and then mixed with the protein solution. In order to increase the viscosity of the spinning solution, it is then additionally possible to admix water-soluble polymers or polymer dispersions.

The solution of C16 spider silk protein and Uvinul A + was spun for three hours in a Nanospider Elmarco apparatus as described above.

Electron microscopic analysis of the thus-prepared Uvinul A + C16 spider silk protein sheets thus obtained revealed that they are mainly fibers with a diameter of about 50 nm up to 400 nm (FIG. 11).

In contrast to pure Uvinul A +, there are no crystalline peaks in X-ray diffraction in the C16 spider silk protein / Uvinul A + formulation (FIG. 12). Accordingly, it can be assumed that the active substance was amorphous or encapsulated as a solid solution, which can positively influence its bioavailability.

To determine the loading density with the active ingredient, the prepared C16 spider silk protein sheet was mixed with 2 ml of THF in two batches (1st batch: 7.9 mg, 2nd batch: 7.8 mg) and shaken for 1800 hours at 1800 incubated upm. The Uvinul A +, which was quantitatively dissolved out by the THF treatment, was subsequently determined by absorption photometry at 352 nm. It was found that in approach 1 a loading density of about 25% [w / w], in the second approach of about 26.2% [w / w] was present.

To determine the release kinetics of the drug, the C16 spider silk protein / Uvinul A + sheets were incubated in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer supplemented with 0.25% [w / v] proteinase K. The quantification of the liberated uvinul A + was carried out after separation of the still intact C16 spider silk protein sheets by extraction of the supernatant with THF and subsequent absorption photometric determination at 352 nm.

While in the control batch (buffer without proteinase K) no active substance was released even after 24 h, the liberation of 100% Uvinul A + in the proteinase K-containing mixture could be achieved after 6-7 hours (FIG. 13).

M / 49169 Example 6 - Production of fibers from pure R16 and S16 proteins by electrospinning

For the preparation of spinnable R16 or S16 protein solutions, R16 or S16 protein microbeads were used. These can be prepared as described in WO 2008/155304. Alternatively, a preparation can be carried out as described in Example 1. In this case, plasmid vectors or E. coli production strains were used which contained coding DNA sequences for the R16 or S16 protein.

For the preparation of a spinnable solution, R16 protein microbeads; 18% [w / w]) in formic acid (98-100% p.a.). The R16 protein was spun in a small batch to detect fiber formation. For this purpose, 0.36 g of R16 protein microbeads were dissolved in 1.64 g of formic acid, thereby filling the syringe of the spinning plant.

The R16 protein solution was spun using the nozzle-based electrospinning equipment. The protein solution was extruded in an electric field at low pressure through a cannula connected to one pole of a voltage source. Due to the electrostatic charge of the protein solution due to the electric field, a flow of material directed at the counterelectrode, which solidified on the way to the counterelectrode and deposited on a glass slide in the form of thin fibers, resulted.

The following parameters were used: ReI. Humidity 27%, spinning temperature 23 ⁰ C, electrical voltage 60 kV, electrode distance 15 cm, cannula diameter 0.9 mm. Feed manually

Electron microscopic analysis of the R16 protein sheets thus produced showed that the solution was fiber-forming and that it was mainly

M / 49169 borrowed fibers with a diameter of about 200 nm to 500 nm (Figure 14A).

The S16 protein solution was spiked with the Nanospider Elmarco equipment. The solution used was in a container in which a spinning electrode (roller) permanently rotated. The spinning electrode in this case was an electrode based on metal wires. Part of the formulation was consistently on the surface of the wires. The electric field between the roller and the counter electrode (above the roller) caused the formulation to form liquid jets, which then lose or solidify the solvent present on the way to the counter electrode. The desired nanofiber fleece (textile fabric) was created on a polypropylene substrate that passed between the two electrodes.

Microbeads of the S16 protein were dissolved 12% [w / w] in formic acid (98-100% p.a.). 200 ml of formic acid were initially introduced into a beaker for the S16 batch and then successively 40 g of S16 protein were stirred in. After the S16 protein had completely dissolved, the solution was made up to 340 g with formic acid (98-100%).

The following parameters were used: Temperature: 24 ° C rel. Humidity: 22% Voltage: 70-82kV Electrode gap: 25cm Spinning time: 1.5h

The S16 protein sheet had fibers with a diameter of about 100 nm up to 300 nm (Figure 14B).

In the case of the manufacture of R16 or S16 protein sheets containing medical products (eg wound dressings or patches) or hygiene products (wipes, diapers, sanitary napkins, etc.) or the use of R16 or S16 protein nonwovens in appropriate applications as a carrier substrate or as a carrier for the fabric to be coated Medikai- or hygiene product itself or parts or individual layers thereof are used.

M / 49169 _M EP2009 / 005756

di

Alternatively, aqueous R16 or S16 protein solutions (analogous to C16 spider silk protein, preparation see Example 1) can also be used as starting material for the production of fibers / fiber fabrics. In order to increase the viscosity of the spinning solution or to produce the viscoelasticity of the solutions, it is then additionally possible to admix water-soluble polymers, polymer dispersions or biopolymers (for example proteins).

Example 7 - Formulation of Uvinul A + as an effect substance in R16 and S16 protein nonwovens by means of electrospinning

To demonstrate the utility of the described process for the formulation of drugs, for example, the drug Uvinul A + was encapsulated by electrospinning into R16 or S16 protein sheets (e.g., protein films, protein fibers, protein nonwovens).

For the preparation of a spinnable solution, R16 protein microbeads (18% [w / w]) or S16 protein microbeads (12% [w / w]) and the active ingredient Uvinul A + (10% [w / w]) were prepared. ) are dissolved together in formic acid (98-100% pa). 200 ml of formic acid were placed in a beaker and then 61.2 g of R16 protein or 40.0 g of S16 protein and 34 g of Uvinul A + were stirred in successively. After the substances were completely dissolved, the solution was made up to 340 g with formic acid (98-100%).

Here again, alternatively, aqueous R16 or S16 protein solutions (analogous to C16 spider silk protein, preparation see Example 1) can be used as starting material base. The active ingredient is then dissolved directly in the aqueous protein solution or predissolved using higher concentrations of active ingredient in an alternative solvent (e.g., formic acid or THF) and then mixed with the protein solution. In order to increase the viscosity of the spinning solution, it is then additionally possible to admix water-soluble polymers, polymer dispersions or biopolymers (for example proteins).

The solution of R16 protein or S16 protein and Uvinul A + spun with the following parameters in the roller-based Nanospider apparatus from Elmarco:

M / 49169 ^

The Uvinul A + protein sheets thus produced had fiber diameters comparable to those without active ingredient (FIG. 15).

In contrast to pure Uvinul A +, there are no crystalline peaks in the R16 protein / Uvinul A + formulation in the X-ray diffraction spectra. (Figure 16). Accordingly, it can be assumed that the drug is amorphous integrated into the fibers. In the S16 protein with Uvinul A + very weak crystalline signals could be detected. There is evidence that the effect material is partially crystalline.

In contrast to the above-described procedure, the release kinetics of the active ingredient from R16 or S16 protein / Uvinul A + surfaces were determined as follows. In each case 10 mg of the R16 or 5 mg of the S16 protein / Uvinul A + - sheets were incubated in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer with 0.25% [w / v] proteinase K. For each planned sampling time one approach was put together. The batches were incubated at 37 ⁰ C and 400 rpm (Fa. Eppendorf) in a Thermomixer incubated. The quantification of the liberated Uvinul A + was carried out at the respective times after removal of the still intact R16 or S16 protein sheets by extraction of the supernatant with THF and subsequent absorption photometric see determination at 352 nm.

To determine the loading density with the drug, all samples prepared for the release kinetics were extracted quantitatively with THF. In the samples where no complete degradation of the protein sheets had occurred, the separated protein sheet was extracted with THF and then Uvinul A + was quantified by absorption photometry. Both values (supernatant and pellet) were added to determine the total loading density. From the loading densities of all time points, the mean loading density was determined. It was found that in the R16 protein sheet a Uvinul A + loading density of about 33.5% [w / w], in the S16 protein sheet of about 49.6% [w / w] was present.

After 24 h, only 7.5% of Uvinul A + was released from the R16 sheet in the control batch (buffer without proteinase K). From the S16 sheet 9.5% active ingredient was released during this period in the control batch. In both approaches

M / 49169 the protein sheets remained intact. In the same period, the proteinase K-staggered approach completely degraded the S16 sheet. The proteinase K-controlled degradation of the R16 sheet, however, was much slower. After 24 h, individual residues of the R16 sheet were still visible in the mixture.

In the proteinase K-containing R16 protein batch, about 63% [w / w] of the Uvinul A + were released after 24 h (FIG. 17). In the S16 protein approach, however, the entire active ingredient Uvinul A + was already released after about 3 hours (FIG. 17).

Reference is expressly made to the disclosure of the references cited herein.

M / 49169

Claims

claims

1. Active substance-containing fibrous sheet comprising a fibrous, polymeric soluble and / or degradable active substance carrier and at least one, associated with the carrier, and releasable from the fiber sheet active ingredient, wherein the carrier comprises as the polymer component at least one biopolymer, optionally additionally chemically and / or enzymatically modified.

2. Fibrous sheet according to claim 1, wherein the fibrous sheet is obtainable by means of a spinning process, in particular by electro-spinning an electro-spinnable solution comprising at least one biopolymer and at least one active ingredient.

3. Fibrous sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one active ingredient is in amorphous, partially crystalline or crystalline form.

A fibrous sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the active ingredient is incorporated in and / or adsorbed to the carrier.

5. Fibrous sheet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the biopolymer is a protein, in particular an amphiphilic, selbstassemblieren- the protein.

6. The fibrous web of claim 5, wherein the amphiphilic self-assembling proteins are microbead-forming proteins.

The fibrous sheet of claim 5, wherein the amphiphilic self-assembling proteins are intrinsically unfolded proteins.

The fibrous sheet of claim 5, wherein the amphiphilic self-assembling proteins are silk proteins.

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The fibrous web of claim 8, wherein the amphiphilic self-assembling proteins are spider silk proteins.

The fibrous sheet of claim 9, wherein the spider silk protein comprises the C16 spider silk protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to SEQ

ID NO: 2, or a spinnable protein derived therefrom having a sequence identity of at least about 60%

11. The fibrous web of claim 8, wherein the silk protein is selected from the R16 protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to SEQ

ID NO: 4 and the S16 protein comprising an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 6; or a spinnable protein derived from these proteins having a sequence identity of at least about 60%.

12. Fibrous sheet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one pharmaceutical active substance is contained.

The fibrous sheet of claim 12, wherein the active ingredient is a cough and expectorant.

14. The fibrous web of claim 13 wherein the drug is guaiacol glyceryl ether or a derivative thereof.

The fibrous web of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the active ingredient is a crop protection agent.

16. The fibrous sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the active ingredient is a skin and / or hair cosmetic active ingredient.

17. Fibrous sheet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the

Support comprises at least one further polymer component selected from synthetic polymers.

The fibrous web of claim 17, wherein the synthetic polymer is a homo- or copolymer.

M / 49169 ^

19. The fibrous web of any one of the preceding claims wherein the polymeric carrier is a composite polymer selected from a) mixtures of at least 2 miscible biopolymers; b) mixtures of at least 2 immiscible biopolymers; c) mixtures of at least one synthetic homo- or copolymer and at least one biopolymer which are miscible with one another; d) mixtures of at least one synthetic homo- or copolymer and at least one biopolymer which are immiscible with one another.

The fibrous web of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the synthetic polymer component has a molecular weight in the range of about 500 to 10,000,000.

21. Fibrous sheet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

Diameter of the drug carrier fibers 10 nm to 100 microns, such as 50 nm to 10 microns, or 100 nm to 2 microns, is

22. Fibrous sheet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the active ingredient loading is about 0.01 to 80 wt .-%, based on the solids content of the fiber sheet.

23. A fibrous sheet according to any one of the preceding claims selected from polymer fibers, polymer films and polymer nonwovens.

A fibrous sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein carrier polymer components and active ingredients interact non-covalently.

25. Active ingredient-containing formulation comprising a fibrous sheet material according to one of the preceding claims in processed form, optionally in

Combination with at least one further formulation aid.

26. A formulation according to claim 25, comprising the fibrous sheet in comminuted or non-comminuted form.

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27. A formulation according to claim 25 or 26, comprising the fibrous sheet in compacted form, in powder form or applied to a carrier substrate.

28. A formulation according to any one of claims 25 to 27, selected from cosmetic, human and animal pharmaceutical, agrochemical formulations, food and feed additives.

29. Use of a medicated fiber sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 24 for the preparation of an active ingredient-containing formulation according to any one of claims 25 to 28.

30. Use of a drug-containing formulation according to any one of claims 25 to 28 for the controlled release of an active ingredient contained therein.

31. A process for producing a fibrous sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein a) at least one active ingredient mixed together with at least one biopolymer component in a common liquid phase and b) then performs the embedding of the active ingredient in the biopolymer fiber by means of spinning process.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein mixing at least one active ingredient and the biopolymer component in a solvent phase and spun from this mixture.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein mixing at least one active ingredient and the biopolymer component in a mixture of at least two mutually miscible solvents, wherein active ingredients and polymers are soluble in at least one of the solvents, and spun from this mixture.

34. The method according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the biopolymer is an amphiphilic, self-assembling protein, which is mixed with at least one active ingredient in formic acid and then spun from this mixture

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35. The method according to any one of claims 31 to 34, wherein the spinning process is an electrospinning process or a centrifugal (rotor) spinning process.

36. The method according to any one of claims 31 to 35 wherein working at a temperature in the range of about 5 to 50 ⁰ C.

37. The fibrous sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 24, which is substantially free of low molecular weight drugs.

38. Use of a fiber fabric according to claim 37, for the preparation of a drug-containing or drug-free formulation.

39. Use according to claim 38, wherein the formulation is selected from cosmetic, human and animal pharmaceutical, agrochemical formulations, food and feed additives.

40. The fibrous sheet according to claim 37, comprising a fibrous, polymeric soluble and / or degradable carrier, wherein the carrier comprises as polymer component at least one biopolymer which is optionally additionally chemically and / or enzymatically modified, and wherein the biopolymer is an amphiphilic , self-assembling protein.

41. The fibrous sheet of claim 37 or 40, wherein the biopolymer is a silk protein selected from the R16 protein comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 and the S16 protein comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6; or a spinnable protein derived from these proteins having a sequence identity of at least about 60%.

42. Use of a fibrous sheet according to claim 41, for the production of (medical) wound care products and hygiene articles.

43. Wound care products made using a fibrous fabric according to claim 41.

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A sanitary article made using a fibrous sheet according to claim 41.

M / 49169