Drying formulation for hydrogel microcarriers
A method of making a cell culture article is provided. The method includes forming a microcarrier from a microcarrier composition comprising a polygalacturonic acid compound or an alginic acid compound, infiltrating the microcarrier with a drying formulation to form an infiltrated microcarrier, and drying the infiltrated microcarrier to form a dried microcarrier, wherein the drying formulation comprises at least one of a saccharide and a monovalent cation.
1. A method of making a cell culture article, the method comprising the steps of:
a) forming a microcarrier from a composition consisting of polygalacturonic acid and calcium;
b) infiltrating the microcarrier with a drying formulation to form an infiltrated microcarrier, wherein the drying formulation comprises at least one of a saccharide or a monovalent cation;
c) after infiltrating the microcarrier with the drying formulation, drying the infiltrated microcarrier to form a dried microcarrier, and
d) sterilizing the dried microcarrier with gamma radiation to form a sterilized dried microcarrier.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising rehydrating the dried microcarrier.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein infiltrating the microcarrier with a drying formulation comprises soaking the microcarrier in a solution of the drying formulation.
4. The method claim 1 , wherein infiltrating the microcarrier with a drying formulation comprises simultaneously spraying the microcarrier composition and the drying formulation.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the drying formulation comprises 1 to 50 wt.% saccharide.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the drying formulation comprises 10 to 500 mM monovalent cation.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the drying formulation comprises 1 to 50 wt.% saccharide and 10 to 500 mM monovalent cation.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the saccharide is selected from the group consisting of sucrose and glucose.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the monovalent cation is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium ions.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the drying formulation further comprises a non-volatile liquid material.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the non-volatile liquid material is selected from the group consisting of DMSO and a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol.