Preparation and application of poly(vinylamine)/alginate microcapsules to culturing of a mouse erythroleukemia cell line

Poly(vinylamine) was synthesized and used to replace poly-L-lysine in forming microcapsule with alginate. Test results indicated that capsules with good mechanical strength and permeability could be obtained under the controlled treatment conditions of poly(vinylamine) and alginate. Application of the current microcapsular system to cell culture was demonstrated by the usage of erythropoietin- (EPO-) producing IW32 mouse erythroleukemia cells. The encapsulated IW32 cells grew to a density of 8 × 107 cells/mL, two times that found in the corresponding poly-L-lysine/alginate capsules. The EPO accumulation inside the microcapsule with the current encapsulation system was also higher. A concentration of 7.3 U/mL was attained as compared to 4.3 U/mL in the poly-L-lysine/alginate microcapsule. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.