DESIGN OF SUBMICROSCOPIC POLYALDEHYDE MONOSPHERES FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS.

Monodisperse polyaldehyde microspheres, e. g. , polyglutaraldehyde and polyacrolein microspheres were formed by polymerization of the monomers in the presence of an appropriate surfactant which has both steric and electrostatic stabilizing effects. The conditions and the mechanism for obtaining monodisperse systems were studied. The microspheres were prepared via several mechanisms, in various sizes and with designated physical and chemical properties. The reaction of these microspheres through their aldehyde groups with ligands containing various functional groups, e. g. , amine, thiol and carboxylate, is discussed. The effect of temperature and pH on these reactants is illustrated. The polyaldehyde microspheres with the desired properties were used for applications such as specific cell labeling and separation, cell culturing, affinity chromatography and specific hemoperfusion.