Gelled composite

• US 9,028,872 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Original Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Inventors: Gaserod, Olav, Melvik, Jan Egil, Dornish, Michael, Riley, Peter J., Andersen, Therese
• Primary Examiner(s): Kassa, Tigabu
• Application Number:
  US11/712,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20080033392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,994 Days
• US Class Current: 424/488
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/36 Polysaccharides; Derivatives thereof, e.g. gums, starch, alginate, dextrin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, inulin, agar or pectin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/122 Foams; Dry foams edible foams A61K9/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/20 Polysaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/38 containing added animal cells organs or tissue containing native cells A61L27/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/48 with macromolecular fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/56 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 41/00 Drugs used in surgical methods, e.g. surgery adjuvants for preventing adhesion or for vitreum substitution
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

The invention relates to composites comprising a polysaccharide gelled within pores of a foam, methods of preparation, and uses thereof, for example, in biomedical applications such as cell culture media and implants, controlled release delivery systems, food applications, industrial applications, and personal care applications such as cosmetic and oral hygiene. The composites of the present invention are simple to formulate using few steps and are useful for entrapping heat-sensitive components, such as cells, drugs, flavors or fragrances within the polysaccharide gel. In addition, the invention provides for a composite able to gently immobilize fragile components, such as living cells, without exposing such components to shear forces.

Claims

1. A composite comprising a foam comprising alginate and a polysaccharide gel comprising alginate and cells within the pores of said foam, wherein said polysaccharide gel is chemically bonded to said foam, said composite prepared by a process comprising contacting:

(i) a foam comprising (a) a polymer comprising alginate and (b) gel-forming ions capable of forming a gel with a liquid component comprising a polysaccharide comprising alginate, with

(ii) a liquid component comprising a soluble polysaccharide comprising alginate and cells, whereby upon contact of said alginate in said liquid component with said gel-forming ions, a polysaccharide gel comprising alginate and cells is formed within the pores of said foam and is chemically bonded to said foam to form said composite.

3. The composite according to claim 1 wherein the elastic modulus of the composite is from 0.1 kPa to 1000 kPa.

4. The composite according to claim 1 in which the foam and/or the polysaccharide comprises an ultrapure polysaccharide possessing a low content of endotoxins.

5. The composite for inhibiting cell proliferation comprising the composite according to claim 1, wherein the gel-forming ion comprises barium ion, strontium ion, or mixtures thereof.

6. The composite for promoting cell proliferation comprising the composite according to claim 1, wherein the gel-forming ion comprises calcium ion.

7. The composite according to claim 1, wherein the gel-forming ions comprise at least one of calcium ions, strontium ions and barium ions, and the gelling ions are present in a molar amount equivalent to 5% to 200% of the gelling sites of the soluble polysaccharide.

2. The composite according to claim to 1, wherein the foam absorbs from 1 to 30 times its weight of the liquid component.