Trehalose

Synonyms: Ascend; a-D-glucopyranosyl-a-D-glucopyranoside; (a-D-glucosido)- a-D-glucoside; mycose; natural trehalose; a,a-trehalose; Treha; trehalose dihydrate

Description: Trehalose occurs as virtually odorless, white or almost white crystals with a sweet taste (approximately 45% of the sweetness of sucrose)

Chemical Name: Dioxotitanium

Color adjuvant; flavor enhancer; freeze-drying agent; humectant; stabilizing agent; sweetening agent; tablet diluent; thickening agent.

• Trehalose is used for the lyoprotection of therapeutic proteins, particularly for parenteral administration.

• Other pharmaceutically relevant applications include use as an excipient for diagnostic assay tablets; for stabilization during the freeze–thaw and lyophilization of liposomes; and for stabilization of blood cells cosmetics, and monoclonal antibodies.

• Trehalose may also be used in formulations for topical application.

Trehalose is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, especially in the presence of heat.

Trehalose is used in cosmetics, foods, and parenteral and nonparenteral pharmaceutical formulations. It is generally regarded as a relatively nontoxic and nonirritant material when used as an excipient. In the gut, trehalose is rapidly metabolized to glucose by the specific enzyme trehalase. A small minority of the population exhibits a primary (hereditary) or secondary (acquired) trehalase deficiency and thus may experience intestinal discomfort after ingestion of excessive amounts of trehalose owing to the osmotic activity of undigested trehalose in the gut. However, smaller amounts of trehalose are tolerated by such individuals without any symptoms. Trehalose is used as a sweetener and is reported to have substantially less cariogenic potential than sucrose.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Eye protection and gloves are recommended.

Isotrehalose; neotrehalose.