Preparation of DEAE–soybean starch microspheres for anchorage-dependent mammal cell culture

The present study outlines the synthesis of a new microcarrier for anchoragedependent animal cell cultures similar to Cytodex 1. The new microcarriers were synthesized from the cross-linking soybean starch microspheres followed by modification with 2-diethylaminoethyl (DEAE). DEAE–soybean starch microspheres were used in anchorage-dependent cell cultures using 3 g/L of the carrier and a 2.0 × 105 cells/ml inoculation density of BHK-21, Vero, Marc-145 and HEK293 cells. The cells were shown to grow well in the DEAE–soybean starch microcarrier, with BHK-21 and HEK293 cells showing a higher cell density after 144 h (2.5 × 106 and 1.9 × 106 cells/ml, respectively) compared to cells grown in Cytodex 1 (2.2 × 106 and 1.7 × 106 cells/ml, respectively). The DEAE–soybean starch microspheres were prepared with widely available and inexpensive raw material using a simple and easily scaled up curing method for preparation. Compared with the Cytodex microcarrier series, cell culture was similar coupled with the advantages of low cost. These starch microcarriers are potential applications in the culture of anchorage-dependent animal cells.