Abstract Cryogels are formed in a semifrozen state when the solvent is frozen, but
solutes are still soluble. The ice crystals are porogens and, upon thawing the system,
pores appear where the frozen solvent was found earlier. Such gels have large pores,
are elastic, and offer interesting opportunities in biotechnology. Cryogels with their
large pores can meet demands that traditional chromatographic media cannot. This
also opens up opportunities for the separation of cells because upon passage
through the gel cells may interact with specific groups on the pore walls, thereby
becoming retarded and/or captured. A range of applications have been studied:
isolation of microbial cells, capturing of cancer cells, and use of cryogels as
matrices for immobilized cell reactors. Furthermore, the robustness of the gels
allows new applications, for example in environmental separation.
Keywords Cell chromatography • Immobilized cells • Molecular imprinting • Cell
bioreactors • Composite cryogels
Abbreviations
AAm
Acrylamide
BSA
Bovine serum albumin
ECS
Extra capillary space
HFR
Hollow fiber reactor
HMs
Heavy metal ions
HSA
Human serum albumin
ICS
Intra capillary space
IDA
Immuno-diacetic-acid
MIP
Molecularly imprinted polymer
MPG
Macroporous gel particle
NIP
Non-imprinted polymer
NIPA
N-Isopropyl acrylamide
PAAm
Polyacrylamide
PEG
Polyethylene glycol
PHEMA Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)
PVA
Polyvinyl alcohol
SEM
Scanning electron microscope
1 Introduction
Polymeric materials play essential roles in the life sciences. The supermacroporous
cryogels were first used for immobilization of microbial cells [1], but later found
many new and exciting applications [2]. Their high porosity combined with very
good biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and ease of preparation are reasons
246
B. Mattiasson
solutes are still soluble. The ice crystals are porogens and, upon thawing the system,
pores appear where the frozen solvent was found earlier. Such gels have large pores,
are elastic, and offer interesting opportunities in biotechnology. Cryogels with their
large pores can meet demands that traditional chromatographic media cannot. This
also opens up opportunities for the separation of cells because upon passage
through the gel cells may interact with specific groups on the pore walls, thereby
becoming retarded and/or captured. A range of applications have been studied:
isolation of microbial cells, capturing of cancer cells, and use of cryogels as
matrices for immobilized cell reactors. Furthermore, the robustness of the gels
allows new applications, for example in environmental separation.
Keywords Cell chromatography • Immobilized cells • Molecular imprinting • Cell
bioreactors • Composite cryogels
Abbreviations
AAm
Acrylamide
BSA
Bovine serum albumin
ECS
Extra capillary space
HFR
Hollow fiber reactor
HMs
Heavy metal ions
HSA
Human serum albumin
ICS
Intra capillary space
IDA
Immuno-diacetic-acid
MIP
Molecularly imprinted polymer
MPG
Macroporous gel particle
NIP
Non-imprinted polymer
NIPA
N-Isopropyl acrylamide
PAAm
Polyacrylamide
PEG
Polyethylene glycol
PHEMA Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)
PVA
Polyvinyl alcohol
SEM
Scanning electron microscope
1 Introduction
Polymeric materials play essential roles in the life sciences. The supermacroporous
cryogels were first used for immobilization of microbial cells [1], but later found
many new and exciting applications [2]. Their high porosity combined with very
good biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and ease of preparation are reasons
246
B. Mattiasson