Ensilication Technique for Biopharmaceutical Stabilisation: Method Development and Optimisation

Protein-based biopharmaceuticals face significant stability challenges during manufacturing, storage, and delivery. This study uses ensilication, a novel sol-gel method, to enhance protein thermal stability by encapsulating proteins within a protective silica shell. We systematically optimised ensilication parameters for lysozyme, including stirring conditions, buffer composition, and pH, to improve encapsulation efficiency and protein integrity. Phosphate buffer significantly enhanced encapsulation (80%) compared to Tris-HCl, and increasing pH to 7.6 improved protein loading. These findings offer valuable insights for developing more efficient and biocompatible protein delivery systems, highlighting the potential of ensilicated proteins for future pharmaceutical applications.