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Abstract
The biocompatibility of alginate-PLL-alginate (APA) microcapsules has been evaluated
with respect to impurity levels. The impurity content of three different alginates
(a raw high M-alginate, a raw high G-alginate and a purified high G-alginate) has
been determined and the in vivo antigenic response of APA beads made with each alginate
assessed. Results show that purification of the alginate not only reduces the total
amount of impurities (63% less in polyphenols, 91.45% less in endotoxins and 68.5%
less in protein in relation to raw high M-alginate), but also avoids an antibody response
when microcapsules of this material are implanted in mice. In contrast, raw alginates
produced a detectable antibody response though the differences in their impurity content.
Consequently, this work revealed that purity of the alginate rather than their chemical
composition, is probably of greater importance in determining microcapsule biocompatibility.