USE OF POLYACRYLATES IN THE MICROENCAPSULATION OF MAMMALIAN CELLS.

Abstract

Microencapsulation of mammalian tissue cells by interfacial precipitation or interfacial adsorption of EUDRAGIT RL has led to the development of two microencapsulation strategies for the production of a durable, implantable metabolic prostheses for the amelioration of insulin-dependent diabetes. The production of microcapsules by interfacial precipitation of the water-insoluble cationic polyacrylate, EUDRAGIT, has been refined. Capsules large enough to contain intact pancreatic islets have been prepared by a gentle, low-shear coextrusion process. The discovery that EUDRAGIT RL, although water insoluble, can be stable as an aqueous emulsion has led to the development of an interfacial adsorption method for microencapsulation. EUDRAGIT coating of calcium alginate microcapsules increased the compressive strength of the soft alginate without adversely affecting the viability of the immobilized erythrocytes.