Packaging proteins

Jeffrey Errington, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, investigates complex fluids and biological systems from a microscopic perspective. By finding ways to preserve proteins and other biomaterials, Errington, who received a 2003 NSF CAREER Award and a 2004 Watson Investigator Award, aims to improve the design of pharmaceutical, personal care, and cosmetic formulations.

Though proteins are becoming increasingly important pharmaceutical ingredients, many are inherently unstable, making them difficult and expensive to store and ship. Fluctuations in temperature during transport may cause the protein to unfold or degrade.

Errington’s group is finding ways to temporarily trap proteins in a solid state so that they survive a range of atmospheric conditions. The process works by encapsulating proteins in novel mixtures of polymers and sugars that form a glassy matrix that is largely devoid of water. “We are trying to surround the protein, on a molecular level, with a rigid matrix that prevents it from being able to unfold,” says Errington. “The idea is to keep the protein in its native state the entire time.” Once product arrives at its destination, it can be reconstituted using a simple solution.

Errington’s research is supported by NSF, the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, and the UB Center for Computational Research.