Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for encapsulating living cells in a keratin-containing hydrogel, comprising (i) providing a solution of keratin; (ii) adjusting the pH of the keratin solution by adding a pH buffer with a pH of about 2 to 5; (iii) incubating the keratin solution to form a keratin precipitate phase and a supernatant phase; (iv) removing the supernatant phase; (v) adjusting the pH of the keratin solution by covering the keratin precipitate phase with a liquid medium of a desired pH, wherein the desired pH is in the range of about 6 to 8; (vi) optionally repeating steps (iv) and (v) until the desired pH is achieved; (vii) adding living cells suspended in a liquid medium to the keratin precipitate phase and mixing both to form a homogeneous solution; and (viii) incubating the homogeneous solution to form a keratin-containing hydrogel encapsulating the living cells. Use of the living cells encapsulated keratin-containing hydrogel in cell delivery, drug delivery, wound dressing, or tissue regeneration is also disclosed.
| Original language | English (US) |
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| Patent number | WO2013012397 |
| IPC | C12N 11/ 04 A I |
| Priority date | 7/21/11 |
| State | Published - Jan 24 2013 |