Patent ID: 8865218

Claim:
A process for the manufacture of hydrogel-based microcapsules, containing Sertoli cells (SC), comprising the following steps: a. production of a homogeneous suspension of SC with purity, in terms of cell composition, higher than 90%, in a saline solution of ultrapure sodium alginate with a concentration ranging from 1 to 5% w/v; b. aspiration of said suspension at a speed between 10 and 60 ml/minute and introduction into a needle-type element; c. regulation of pressure in the needle-type element comprising: subjecting a fluid stream to a pressure reduction so as to obtain a constant pressure to stabilize an output fluid flow to the needle-type element, and regulating the output fluid flow to obtain a reproducibility in a transient stage; d. extrusion of said suspension inside said needle-type element through emission of a fluid stream of 3-7 liter/min thereby obtaining a continuous flow of microdroplets showing homogeneous dimensions; and e. introduction of said microdroplets of said flow into an aqueous solution containing divalent cations or polycationic substances with resulting gelification and obtainment of said microcapsules.