Immobilization of biologically active material in a hydrogel on a support

Claim 1

A method for the preparation of a composite material containing an immobilized biologically active species which comprises applying a gel precursor containing a particulate biologically active material to a support material, said gel precursor containing a major amount of a gel forming material selected from the group of monomers consisting of acrylic, acrylate and biacrylate monomers in combination with a minor amount effective to enhance viscosity of a viscosity enhancing agent selected form the group consisting of an aqueous solution or hydrocolloid suspension of xanthan gum, sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose-sodium salt, cellulose ethers, polyvinyl alcohol, agarose, cold water soluble starch, cellulose paste, or carrageenam and gelling the gel precursor by addition and/or condensation radical initiation polymerization to form a hydrogel containing said biologically active material on the support material, the forming of the hydrogel on the support material being such that, after gelling, at least some of the hydro-gel is enmeshed with the support material, and the gel precursor having rheological properties selected (i) to facilitate applying of the gel precursor to the support material and (ii) to facilitate retention of the gel precursor on the support material prior to and during the gelling and/or to inhibit the sedimentation of biologically active materials prior to, and during gelling.

Claim 2

A method for the preparation of a composite material containing an immobilized biologically active species which comprises applying a gel precursor containing a particulate biologically active material to a support material, said gel precursor containing a major amount of a gel forming material selected from the group of monomers consisting of acrylic, acrylate and biacrylate monomers in combination with a minor amount effective to enhance viscosity of a viscosity enhancing agent selected form the group consisting of an aqueous solution or hydrocolloid suspension of xanthan gum, sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose-sodium salt, cellulose ethers, polyvinyl alcohol, agarose, cold water soluble starch, cellulose paste, or carrageenam and gelling the gel precursor by addition and/or condensation radical initiation polymerization to form a hydrogel containing said biologically active material on the support material, the forming of the hydrogel on the support material being such that, after gelling, at least some of the hydro-gel is enmeshed with the support material, and the gel precursor having rheological properties selected (i) to facilitate applying of the gel precursor to the support material and (ii) to facilitate retention of the gel precursor on the support material prior to and during the gelling and/or to inhibit the sedimentation of biologically active materials prior to, and during gelling.