the ionized form and are capable of binding to cell surfaces mainly by electrostatic forces suitable anionic polymers include the following str16 wherein r is the polymeric chain str17 are anionic ligands and m is a divalent cation specific anionic polymers useful in the practice of the present invention include ______________________________________3 6 anhydro d galactose linked kappa carrageenan through c 4 to d galactose u03b1 d galactose units 1 3 linked lambda carrageenan d galactose iota carrageenan 3 6 anhydro d galactose d galactose agar agar 3 6 anhydro l galactose d galactose furcellaren 3 6 anhydro d galactose d glucopyranose laminarin sulfate galactan and galactan sulfate galactosamino glucuronans chondroitin sulfates and______________________________________ m is mg ca zn ba or mixtures thereof m is mg ca zn ba or mixtures thereof 3 cellulose derivatives of the formulae str20 wherein r is an anhydroglucose residue r 39 is ch 3 c 2 h 5 or c 3 h 7 r 34 is ch 3 or c 2 h 5 and m is mg ca zn ba or mixtures thereof examples of cellulose derivatives include sodium ethylcellulose sulfate sodium cellulose acetate sulfate and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 4 sulfated sulfonated or carboxylated synthetic polymers of the formula str21 wherein r is an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon such as polystyrene poly sulfon resin or carboxylated poly vinyl and m is mg ca zn ba or mixtures thereof the cationic polymers carry positive charges in the ionized form suitable polymers for practicing.