Crosslinked Polysaccharide Beads and Their Biomedical Uses

Abstract

The present inventions relates to beads as biocompatible material adapted for use within the human or animal body. Said beads are highly useful for tissue engineering, in situ tissue regeneration, as well as for drug and/or cells delivery. In addition, said beads may support biotechnological applications such as cell carriers.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A bead obtained by
 a) preparing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising at least one polysaccharide and a cross linking agent;   b) dispersing said alkaline aqueous solution into an hydrophobic phase in order to obtain a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion; and   c) transforming the w/o emulsion into beads by placing said w/o emulsion at a temperature from about 4° C. to about 80° C. for a sufficient time to allow the cross-linking of said at least one polysaccharide;   
       wherein,
 said polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of dextran, pullulan, agar, alginic acid, starch hyaluronic acid, inulin, heparin, fucoidan, chitosan and mixtures thereof. 
 
     
     
         11 . The bead according to  claim 10 , wherein said bead has a size of from 5 nm to 5 mm. 
     
     
         12 - 17 . (canceled)