Mild formation of core-shell hydrogel microcapsules for cell encapsulation

Liu，Zeyang1,2; Zhang，Hongyong2; Zhan，Zhen2; Nan，Haochen2; Huang，Nan2; Xu，Tao1; Gong，Xiaohua3; Hu，Chengzhi2

2021-03-10

10.1088/1758-5090/abd076

Biofabrication   影响因子和分区

1758-5082

1758-5090

Internal gelation has been an important sol-gel route for the preparation of spherical microgel for drug delivery, cell therapy, or tissue regeneration. Despite high homogeneity and permeability, the internal gelated microgels often result in weak mechanical stability, unregular interface morphology and low cell survival rate. In this work, we have extensively improved the existing internal gelation approach and core-shell hydrogel microcapsules (200-600 μm) with a smooth surface, high mechanical stability and cell survival rate, are successfully prepared by using internal gelation. A coaxial flow-focusing capillary-assembled microfluidic device was developed for the gelation. Rapid gelling behavior of alginate in the internal gelation makes it suitable for producing well-defined and homogenous alginate hydrogel microstructures that serve as the shell of the microcapsules. 2-[4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl]ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) was used in the shell stream during the internal gelation. Thus, a high concentration of acid in the oil solution can be used for better crosslinking the alginate while maintaining high cell viability. We further demonstrated that the gelation conditions in our approach were mild enough for encapsulating HepG2 cells and 3T3 fibroblasts without losing their viability and functionality in a co-culture environment.

alginate internal gelation microcapsule for cell culture microfluidics

SCI ; EI

英语

通讯

China Postdoc Funding[046000003] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China[61903177]

Engineering ; Materials Science

Engineering, Biomedical ; Materials Science, Biomaterials

WOS:000628196300001

IOP PUBLISHING LTD

20211410176426

Alginate ; Cell culture ; Cells ; Drug delivery ; Gelation ; Hydrogels ; Mechanical permeability ; Mechanical stability ; Microstructure ; Morphology ; Sol-gel process ; Sol-gels

Structural Members and Shapes:408.2 ; Biological Materials and Tissue Engineering:461.2 ; Chemical Operations:802.3 ; Chemical Products Generally:804 ; Organic Compounds:804.1 ; Glass:812.3 ; Materials Science:951

2-s2.0-85103481625

Scopus

1.Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Lab,Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI),Shenzhen,No.1001 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District,China
2.Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,No. 1088 Xueyuan Avenue, Nanshan District,China
3.School of Optometry and Vision Science Program,University of California,Berkeley,Berkeley,380 Minor Ln,94720,United States

Liu，Zeyang,Zhang，Hongyong,Zhan，Zhen,et al. Mild formation of core-shell hydrogel microcapsules for cell encapsulation[J]. Biofabrication,2021,13(2).

Liu，Zeyang.,Zhang，Hongyong.,Zhan，Zhen.,Nan，Haochen.,Huang，Nan.,...&Hu，Chengzhi.(2021).Mild formation of core-shell hydrogel microcapsules for cell encapsulation.Biofabrication,13(2).

Liu，Zeyang,et al."Mild formation of core-shell hydrogel microcapsules for cell encapsulation".Biofabrication 13.2(2021).