CONTINUOUS CELL IMMOBILIZATION IN CROSS-LINKED POLYACRYLAMIDE-HYDRAZIDE BEADS

A continuous process for cell immobilization in polyacrylamide-hydrazide (PAAH) beads is presented. The process is based on the preformation of droplets of cell suspension in PAAH solution, encapsulated by thin layer of sodium alginate solution. These droplets are 'laid' into CaCl//2 solution, thus gellifying the outer alginate shell. By subsequent replacement of the CaCl//2 solution with glyoxal containing buffer, the cell containing PAAH internal droplets are cross-linked into alginate-encapsulated PAAH beads. The outer thin alginate layer may then be maintained or removed at will. The process allows for obtaining large and uniform amounts of PAAH-entrapped cells, with retention of the advantages of the parent PAAH entrapment technique.