Patent ID: 6214593
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: A61K,C12N

Abstract:
A process for encapsulation of viable animal cells suitable for research and industrial applications comprising the steps of:a) providing sterilized supports made of organic and/or inorganic compounds and with suitable geometry to immobilize desired loads of cells;b) incubating a suspension of viable animal cells with the supports in order to ensure adhesion of the cells to the support surface;c) encapsulating the cells with a permanent layer formed by exposing the supports to a reactive gas current composed of a carrier gas saturated by inorganic alkoxides for time intervals suitable to encapsulate said cells and maintain the metabolic activity of said cells after encapsulation;d) treating the encapsulated cells with steam under mild hydrolysis conditions while maintain the encapsulation at substantially room temperature to hydrolyze residual alkoxide groups of said inorganic alkoxides; ande) storing the cells encapsulated on the supports by immersion into culture media.