The present invention includes compositions and drying methods for preserving sensitive bioactive materials, such as peptides, proteins, hormones, nucleic acids, antibodies, drugs vaccines, yeast, bacteria (probiotic or otherwise), viruses and/or cell suspensions, in storage. The compositions include a carbohydrates component and a glass enhancer component, wherein the carbohydrate component includes a mixture of di-, oligo- and polysaccharides and the glass enhancer includes ions of organic acid and protein hydrolysates. The composition is prepared by dispersing all the solid components in a solution and then snap-frozen to form small beads, strings or droplets. The preferred drying method of the frozen beads, strings or droplets is initiated by a short purging and structure stabilizing step of the frozen particles under a vacuum pressure of less than <2000 mTORR followed by a primary drying step under vacuum pressure of more than >2000 mTORR and at a desired temperature. During the secondary and final drying step of the material a full vacuum pressure and elevated temperature are applied, to achieve a final desirable water activity of the dry material.La presente invención incluye composiciones y métodos de secado para conservar materiales bioactivos sensibles, tal como péptidos, proteínas, hormonas, ácidos nucleótidos, anticuerpos, vacunas de fármacos, levaduras, bacterias (probióticos o de otra forma), virus y/o suspensiones, en almacenamiento. Las composiciones incluyen un componente de carbohidratos y un componente mejorador del estado vítreo, en donde el componente de carbohidratos incluye una mezcla de di-, oligo- y polisacáridos y el mejorador del estado vítreo incluye iones preferentemente de ácido orgánico e hidrolizado de proteínas. La composición se prepara al dispersar todos los componentes sólidos en una solución y después se congela instantáneamente para formar pequeñas perlas, cordones, o gotas. El método de secado preferido de las perlas, cordones,
