CYTOPROTECTIVE BIOCOMPATIBLE, RETRIEVABLE MACROCAPSULE CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE MATERIALS

摘要

CYTOPROTECTIVE BIOCOMPATIBLE, RETRIEVABLE MACROCAPSULE CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS FOR BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE MATERIALS The present invention is directed to a macrocapsule for encapsulating microcapsules containing biologically active material, such as living cells or free living cells, to make the system more biocompatible by decreasing the surface area and surface roughness of microencapsulated biological materials; increasing mechanical stability of microencapsulated biological materials; enhancing cytoprotectivity by increasing diffusion distance of encapsulated biological material from cytotoxins secreted in vivo; providing retrievability of microencapsulated material; and providing a system of sustained release of the cellular products. The method for producing such a macrocapsule containing the microcapsules is also disclosed.