Drying formulation for hydrogel microcarriers

Abstract

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 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A cell culture article comprising:
 a polygalacturonic acid compound or an alginic acid compound; and   a drying formulation comprising at least one of a saccharide and a monovalent cation,   wherein the cell culture article is free of water.   
     
     
         15 . The cell culture article according to  claim 14 , wherein the drying formulation comprises 1 to 50 wt. % saccharide. 
     
     
         16 . The cell culture article according to  claim 14 , wherein the drying formulation comprises 0.5 to 20 wt. % monovalent cation. 
     
     
         17 . The cell culture article according to  claim 14 , wherein the drying formulation comprises 1 to 50 wt. % saccharide and 0.5 to 20 wt. % monovalent cation. 
     
     
         18 . The cell culture article according to  claim 14 , wherein the drying formulation comprises a non-volatile liquid material. 
     
     
         19 . The cell culture article according to  claim 18 , wherein the non-volatile liquid material is selected from the group consisting of DMSO and a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         20 . The cell culture article according to  claim 14 , wherein the polygalacturonic acid compound or the alginic acid compound is cross-linked with calcium. 
     
     
         21 . The cell culture article of  claim 14 , wherein the cell culture article comprises a microcarrier comprising the polygalacturonic acid compound or the alginic acid compound, wherein the drying formulation is infiltrated into the microcarrier. 
     
     
         22 . The cell culture article of  claim 14 , wherein the drying formulation comprises 10 to 500 mM monovalent cation. 
     
     
         23 . The cell culture article of  claim 14 , wherein the drying formulation comprises 1 to 50 wt. % saccharide and 10 to 500 mM monovalent cation. 
     
     
         24 . The cell culture article of  claim 14 , wherein the saccharide is selected from the group consisting of sucrose and glucose. 
     
     
         25 . The cell culture article of  claim 14 , wherein the monovalent cation is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium and ammonium ions. 
     
     
         26 . The cell culture article of  claim 14 , wherein the drying formulation further comprises a non-volatile liquid material. 
     
     
         27 . The cell culture article of  claim 14 , wherein the non-volatile liquid material is selected from the group consisting of DMSO and a low molecular weight polyethylene glycol.