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Gonçalves RC, Oliveira MB, Mano JF. Exploring the potential of all-aqueous immiscible systems for preparing complex biomaterials and cellular constructs. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2024. [PMID: 39010747 DOI: 10.1039/d4mh00431k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
All-aqueous immiscible systems derived from liquid-liquid phase separation of incompatible hydrophilic agents such as polymers and salts have found increasing interest in the biomedical and tissue engineering fields in the last few years. The unique characteristics of aqueous interfaces, namely their low interfacial tension and elevated permeability, as well as the non-toxic environment and high water content of the immiscible phases, confer to these systems optimal qualities for the development of biomaterials such as hydrogels and soft membranes, as well as for the preparation of in vitro tissues derived from cellular assembly. Here, we overview the main properties of these systems and present a critical review of recent strategies that have been used for the development of biomaterials with increased levels of complexity using all-aqueous immiscible phases and interfaces, and their potential as cell-confining environments for micropatterning approaches and the bioengineering of cell-rich structures. Importantly, due to the relatively recent emergence of these areas, several key design considerations are presented, in order to guide researchers in the field. Finally, the main present challenges, future directions, and adaptability to develop advanced materials with increased biomimicry and new potential applications are briefly evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel C Gonçalves
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Mariana B Oliveira
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - João F Mano
- Department of Chemistry, CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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Hung LT, Poon SHL, Yan WH, Lace R, Zhou L, Wong JKW, Williams RL, Shih KC, Shum HC, Chan YK. Scaffold-Free Strategy Using a PEG-Dextran Aqueous Two-Phase-System for Corneal Tissue Repair. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:1987-1999. [PMID: 35362956 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Forming thin tissue constructs with minimal extracellular matrix surrounding them is important for tissue engineering applications. Here, we explore and optimize a strategy that enables rapid fabrication of scaffold-free corneal tissue constructs using the liquid-liquid interface of an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) that is based on biocompatible polymers, dextran and polyethylene glycol. Intact tissue-like constructs, made of corneal epithelial or endothelial cells, can be formed on the interface between the two liquid phases of ATPS within hours and subsequently collected simply by removing the liquid phases. The formed corneal cell constructs express essential physiological markers and have preserved viability and proliferative ability in vitro. The corneal epithelial cell constructs are also able to re-epithelialize the corneal epithelial wound in vitro. The results suggest the promise of our reported strategy in corneal repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lap Tak Hung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Rm 7-25, Haking Wong Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Stephanie Hiu Ling Poon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 301B Cyberport 4, 100 Cyberport Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Wing Huen Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 301B Cyberport 4, 100 Cyberport Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Rebecca Lace
- Department of Eye and Vision Sciences, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, U.K
| | - Liangyu Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 301B Cyberport 4, 100 Cyberport Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jasper Ka Wai Wong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 301B Cyberport 4, 100 Cyberport Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Rachel L Williams
- Department of Eye and Vision Sciences, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, U.K
| | - Kendrick Co Shih
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 301B Cyberport 4, 100 Cyberport Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Rm 7-25, Haking Wong Building, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Yau Kei Chan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, 301B Cyberport 4, 100 Cyberport Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
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Nan L, Cao Y, Yuan S, Shum HC. Oil-mediated high-throughput generation and sorting of water-in-water droplets. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2020; 6:70. [PMID: 34567680 PMCID: PMC8433215 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-020-0180-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) droplets have demonstrated superior compatibility over conventional water-in-oil droplets for various biological assays. However, the ultralow interfacial tension hampers efficient and stable droplet generation, limiting further development and more extensive use of such approaches. Here, we present a simple strategy to employ oil as a transient medium for ATPS droplet generation. Two methods based on passive flow focusing and active pico-injection are demonstrated to generate water-water-oil double emulsions, achieving a high generation frequency of ~2.4 kHz. Through evaporation of the oil to break the double emulsions, the aqueous core can be released to form uniform-sized water-in-water droplets. Moreover, this technique can be used to fabricate aqueous microgels, and the introduction of the oil medium enables integration of droplet sorting to produce single-cell-laden hydrogels with a harvest rate of over 90%. We believe that the demonstrated high-throughput generation and sorting of ATPS droplets represent an important tool to advance droplet-based tissue engineering and single-cell analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Nan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
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Chao Y, Shum HC. Emerging aqueous two-phase systems: from fundamentals of interfaces to biomedical applications. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:114-142. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cs00466a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review summarizes recent advances of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs), particularly their interfaces, with a focus on biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youchuang Chao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- The University of Hong Kong
- China
| | - Ho Cheung Shum
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- The University of Hong Kong
- China
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