Macroporous particles for cell cultivation or chromatography

Claim 1

Macroporous particles for use as a cell cultivation matrix material or as a chromatography matrix material, said macroporous particles having a particle size of about 10-500 micrometers and including a large number of pores having a diameter of about 1-50 micrometers wherein said particles are formed by the steps of: dissolving a water-soluble matrix material in an aqueous solvent to form an aqueous solution comprising said matrix material dissolved in said aqueous solvent; mixing a sufficient amount of a water-insoluble liquid cavity generating compound with said aqueous solution of matrix material to form a dispersion of droplets of said liquid cavity generating compound in said aqueous solution; adding additional liquid cavity generating compound to said dispersion in an amount sufficient to saturate said dispersion and form droplets of said dispersion dispersed in said liquid cavity generating compound; solidifying said dispersed droplets to form beads of said matrix material having a large number of pores containing said liquid cavity generating compound dispersed therethrough; separating said solidified beads from said liquid cavity generating compound; and removing said liquid cavity generating compound from the pores of said beads to form said macroporous particles having a particle size of between about 10 to 500 micrometers and a large number of pores having diameters of between about 1-50 micrometers.