Patent ID: 8092820

Claim:
A method for preparing a substantially dry cross linked gelatin powder, the method comprising: providing an aqueous solution comprising a non-cross-linked gelatin and at least one re-hydration aid, wherein the non-cross-linked gelatin is present in the aqueous solution in the range from 5% (w/w) to 15% (w/w) and the re-hydration aid is present in the aqueous solution in the range from 5% to 30% (w/w) based on the weight of the non-cross-linked gelatin present in the aqueous solution; cross-linking the non-cross-linked gelatin in the presence of the at least one re-hydration aid so as to produce a cross-linked gelatin; removing at least 50% (w/w) of the at least one re-hydration aid from the aqueous solution after the cross-linking step; and drying the cross-linked gelatin and grinding the cross-linked gelatin to produce the substantially dry cross linked gelatin powder, wherein the re-hydration aid is present in the dry cross linked gelatin powder at below 0.1% (w/w), and wherein the substantially dry cross linked gelatin powder has a moisture content below 20% (w/w) and a re-hydration rate of at least 3 gm/gm in 30 seconds.