Patent ID: 7931918

Claim:
A method for preparing natural extracellular matrix-based microspheres, comprising providing an aqueous solution of one or more natural extracellular matrix components; initiating the sol-gel transition of the matrix components by initiating polymerization of the matrix components by raising the pH, the ionic strength or the temperature of the matrix components to form an aqueous gelling mixture; decelerating the sol-gel transition process by lowering the temperature, the pH or the ionic strength of the matrix components; incorporating therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic molecules into the aqueous gelling mixture; mixing the aqueous gelling mixture with an oil phase with agitation to form a water-in-oil emulsion; solidifying the microdroplets in the emulsion to form solid microspheres by increasing the pH, the ionic concentration or the temperature of the emulsion; and separating the solid microspheres from the oil phase and the aqueous phase.