Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
A method for using macroporous particles in a bioreactor system for producing a biochemical product, said method comprising 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; removing said liquid cavity generating compound from the pores of said beads to form 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; immobilizing an organism on said macroporous particles to produce an immobilized organism, said organism capable of producing said biochemical product; charging said bioreactor system with said immobilized organism; contacting said immobilized organism with a liquid reagent stream for culturing said immobilized organism; and recovering said biochemical product from said bioreactor system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
234 words
A method for using macroporous particles in a bioreactor system for producing a biochemical product, said method comprising 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; removing said liquid cavity generating compound from the pores of said beads to form 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; immobilizing an organism on said macroporous particles to produce an immobilized organism, said organism capable of producing said biochemical product; charging said bioreactor system with said immobilized organism; contacting said immobilized organism with a liquid reagent stream for culturing said immobilized organism; and recovering said biochemical product from said bioreactor system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method for using macroporous particles according to claim 1 wherein said bioreactor system is charged with between about 0.1 to 20 liters of said immobilized organism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said organism is a hybridoma and said biochemical product comprises monoclonal antibodies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said organism is an animal cell and said biochemical product comprises animal cell products.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said organism is a genetically engineered microbial cell and said biochemical product comprises secreted protein products.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for using macroporous particles as microcarriers for culturing anchorage-dependent animal cells comprising 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; removing said liquid cavity generating compound from the pores of said beads to form 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; mixing said macroporous particles with a growth medium and an animal cell line to form a growth support medium; incubating said growth support medium to promote cell attachment and growth; and recovering said cells from said macroporous particles.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for using macroporous particles as microcarriers for culturing anchorage-dependent animal cells comprising 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; removing said liquid cavity generating compound from the pores of said beads to form 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; mixing said macroporous particles with a growth medium and an animal cell line to form a growth support medium; incubating said growth support medium to promote cell attachment and growth; and recovering said cells from said macroporous particles.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
208 words
A method for using macroporous particles as ion-exchangers in chromatography, said method comprising 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 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; derivatizing said macroporous particles to form derivatized macroporous particles having ion-exchange groups; preparing chromatography columns packed with said derivatized macroporous particles; and using said chromatography columns for ion-exchange chromatography.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
208 words
A method for using macroporous particles as ion-exchangers in chromatography, said method comprising 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 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; derivatizing said macroporous particles to form derivatized macroporous particles having ion-exchange groups; preparing chromatography columns packed with said derivatized macroporous particles; and using said chromatography columns for ion-exchange chromatography.