Patent ID: 8017155

Claim:
A method for encapsulating a biomacromolecule in a pore-containing polymer comprising the steps of: a. providing an encapsulating solution containing the biomacromolecule and the pore-containing polymer, wherein the pore-containing polymer is insoluble in the encapsulating solution; b. contacting the biomacromolecule with the pore-containing polymer for a time sufficient for the biomacromolecule to enter the pores of the pore-containing polymer; and c. causing the pores of the pore-containing polymer to close, partially or fully, by: elevating the temperature of the encapsulating solution, changing the pH of the encapsulating solution, incorporating a pore-closing additive in the pore-containing polymer, or incorporating a pore-closing additive in the encapsulation solution; wherein the biomacromolecules that had entered the pores in step b are thereby encapsulated in the pore-containing polymer.