Patent ID: 8277849

Claim:
A gel-forming composition for use in a gel, lotion, cream or ointment, the composition comprising exopolysaccharide particles produced by the process of: extracting, from a microalgal cell culture medium, a microalgal exopolysaccharide secreted by the microalgal cells into the culture medium, wherein the microalgal cells are of the genus Parachlorella; drying the extracted microalgal exopolysaccharide to form a film; heating the extracted microalgal exopolysaccharide at a temperature in a range from 135° C. to 152° C.; and generating particles having an average size of between 0.1 to 400 microns, wherein the particles comprise the heated exopolysaccharide and increase in volume on contact with water by at least 200% so as to form a gel.