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Abstract

Compositions and methods for avidin immobilized on an inert support material, e.g. agarose, are disclosed. The compositions have high activity levels of avidin and may further include a bulking agent, e.g., maltose, and a protectant to maintain the stability and integrity of the avidin agarose during lyophilization and terminal sterilization processes. These compositions have applicability in any instance where avidin agarose and/or the avidin/biotin technology are useful. In particular, the present compositions are useful in an enzyme capture system to prepare fibrin monomer useful for fibrin sealants. The fibrin is prepared by subjecting a fibrinogen-containing composition to a biotinylated enzyme to convert the fibrinogen in the composition to a corresponding fibrin monomer. A fibrin monomer/biotinylated enzyme mixture is formed. A material comprising an avidin/inert support composition having 1000 biotin binding units of activity per gram of the composition, a bulking agent and a protectant, is then introduced into the enzyme mixture to form a complex of the material and the biotinylated enzyme. The complex and enzyme are then removed therefrom to recover a fibrin monomer. Bulking agents selected from nonionic water soluble compounds are used.

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First Claim