Patent ID: 8298548

Claim:
A gel, lotion, cream or ointment composition suitable for topical administration comprising microalgal exopolysaccharide particles, the exopolysaccharide produced by microalgae of the genus Parachlorella , wherein the exopolysaccharide particles are made by: culturing microalgae cells in a culture medium so that exopolysaccharide is secreted by the microalgal cells into the culture medium; separating the exopolysaccharide from the microalgal cells to create a purified exopolysaccharide; heating the purified exopolysaccharide at a temperature of 148-160° C. so as to render it partially insoluble in water, and so that it forms a polysaccharide gel in water; and generating particles having an average size of between 0.1 and 400 microns from the heated exopolysaccharide, wherein the particles increase in volume on contact with water by at least 100% compared to their anhydrous volume; and wherein the particles increase in volume for at least 4 hours.