title: Novel solvent-based method for preparation of alginate beads with improved roundness and predictable size.
abstract: Attempts to determine conditions or processes within alginate gel beads often suffer from inaccuracies due to an improper roundness of the analysed beads. Therefore, a novel solvent-based method for the preparation of alginate beads with improved shape was developed: An aqueous solution of 2% (w/v) alginate in water was injected into a solvent layering consisting of hexane, n-butanol, n-butanol with 1% (w/v) CaCl2 and finally 2% (w/v) CaCl2 in water. Beads of up to 3.5 mm in diameter obtained with this method had a roundness which was approximately 5% better than comparable beads prepared by dropping an alginate solution into a CaCl2-hardening bath. This was determined by a software supported quantitative analysis of bead size and shape. Additionally, the novel solvent-based method allows for highly reproducible preparation of alginate beads with exactly predictable sizes. The biggest beads obtained with this method were 9 mm in diameter. Thus, with the solvent-based preparation of alginate beads it is now possible to easily obtain beads of exactly the type needed for a specific analytical purpose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, D-52056 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buthe
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hartmeier
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ansorge-Schumacher
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D012997:Solvents
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D012997:Solvents