| abstract |
A multi-compartmentalised gel matrix is claimed, wherein each compartment comprises a volume of hydrophobic medium and one or more aqueous droplets therein and amphipathic layers separating them. Said compartments may comprise an aqueous layer around the volume of hydrophobic medium. Pharmaceutical formulations, synthetic cells or tissues comprising said compartmentalised gel matrix, are disclosed. The invention also provides the use of a compartmentalised gel matrix in a method of drug delivery and in synthetic biology. The invention further provides methods of manufacturing a compartmentalised gel matrix according to the invention, comprising inserting a volume of hydrophobic medium into a gel precursor, gelling the gel precursor and further inserting one or more droplets of aqueous medium into the volume of hydrophobic medium. |