A small-sized dense magnetic pellicular support (MPS) for magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSFB) adsorption of protein has been fabricated by introducing magnetic colloids and glass beads during the emulsification of 4% agarose solution. The MPS was identified with a mean density of 1.40 g/ml and a size range of 70-130 mum. The support has a good magnetization property with little residual magnetization after the field was removed. After cross-linking and reducing, the MPS was coupled with diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) groups to create an anion exchanger DEAE-MPS. The fluidization behavior of the support was examined in an MSFB with transverse magnetic field and the results were compared with those obtained in expanded bed. As a result, an optimum field intensity of 250 Gs was found to give the lowest axial dispersion of the MSFB. At the optimum field intensity, BSA adsorption at 208 and 283 cm/h showed that the dynamic binding capacity in MSFB was about 60% higher than that in expanded bed mode. It was attributed to the reduced backmixing in the MSFB compared to that in expanded bed. The results indicate that the dense MPS is promising for MSFB protein adsorption at elevated flow rates. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.