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Ding L, Oh S, Shrestha J, Lam A, Wang Y, Radfar P, Warkiani ME. Scaling up stem cell production: harnessing the potential of microfluidic devices. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108271. [PMID: 37844769 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells are specialised cells characterised by their unique ability to both self-renew and transform into a wide array of specialised cell types. The widespread interest in stem cells for regenerative medicine and cultivated meat has led to a significant demand for these cells in both research and practical applications. Despite the growing need for stem cell manufacturing, the industry faces significant obstacles, including high costs for equipment and maintenance, complicated operation, and low product quality and yield. Microfluidic technology presents a promising solution to the abovementioned challenges. As an innovative approach for manipulating liquids and cells within microchannels, microfluidics offers a plethora of advantages at an industrial scale. These benefits encompass low setup costs, ease of operation and multiplexing, minimal energy consumption, and the added advantage of being labour-free. This review presents a thorough examination of the prominent microfluidic technologies employed in stem cell research and explores their promising applications in the burgeoning stem cell industry. It thoroughly examines how microfluidics can enhance cell harvesting from tissue samples, facilitate mixing and cryopreservation, streamline microcarrier production, and efficiently conduct cell separation, purification, washing, and final cell formulation post-culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Ding
- Smart MCs Pty Ltd, Ultimo, Sydney, 2007, Australia.
| | - Steve Oh
- Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138668, Singapore
| | - Jesus Shrestha
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Alan Lam
- Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, 138668, Singapore
| | - Yaqing Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Payar Radfar
- Smart MCs Pty Ltd, Ultimo, Sydney, 2007, Australia
| | - Majid Ebrahimi Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia..
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2
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Ling SD, Liu Z, Ma W, Chen Z, Du Y, Xu J. A Novel Step-T-Junction Microchannel for the Cell Encapsulation in Monodisperse Alginate-Gelatin Microspheres of Varying Mechanical Properties at High Throughput. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12080659. [PMID: 36005055 PMCID: PMC9406195 DOI: 10.3390/bios12080659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cell encapsulation has been widely employed in cell therapy, characterization, and analysis, as well as many other biomedical applications. While droplet-based microfluidic technology is advantageous in cell microencapsulation because of its modularity, controllability, mild conditions, and easy operation when compared to other state-of-art methods, it faces the dilemma between high throughput and monodispersity of generated cell-laden microdroplets. In addition, the lack of a biocompatible method of de-emulsification transferring cell-laden hydrogel from cytotoxic oil phase into cell culture medium also hurtles the practical application of microfluidic technology. Here, a novel step-T-junction microchannel was employed to encapsulate cells into monodisperse microspheres at the high-throughput jetting regime. An alginate–gelatin co-polymer system was employed to enable the microfluidic-based fabrication of cell-laden microgels with mild cross-linking conditions and great biocompatibility, notably for the process of de-emulsification. The mechanical properties of alginate-gelatin hydrogel, e.g., stiffness, stress–relaxation, and viscoelasticity, are fully adjustable in offering a 3D biomechanical microenvironment that is optimal for the specific encapsulated cell type. Finally, the encapsulation of HepG2 cells into monodisperse alginate–gelatin microgels with the novel microfluidic system and the subsequent cultivation proved the maintenance of the long-term viability, proliferation, and functionalities of encapsulated cells, indicating the promising potential of the as-designed system in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Da Ling
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wenjun Ma
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Correspondence: (Z.C.); (Y.D.); (J.X.)
| | - Yanan Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Correspondence: (Z.C.); (Y.D.); (J.X.)
| | - Jianhong Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Correspondence: (Z.C.); (Y.D.); (J.X.)
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3
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Hauck N, Neuendorf TA, Männel MJ, Vogel L, Liu P, Stündel E, Zhang Y, Thiele J. Processing of fast-gelling hydrogel precursors in microfluidics by electrocoalescence of reactive species. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:10312-10321. [PMID: 34664052 PMCID: PMC8612358 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01176f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microscopic hydrogels, also referred to as microgels, find broad application in life and materials science. A well-established technique for fabricating uniform microgels is droplet microfluidics. Here, optimal mixing of hydrogel precursor components is crucial to yield homogeneous microgels with respect to their morphology, mechanics, and distribution of functional moieties. However, when processing premixed polymer precursors that are highly reactive, fast or even instantaneous gelation inside fluid reservoirs or the microchannels of the flow cell commonly occurs, leading to an increase of fluid viscosity over time, and thus exacerbating the intrinsic control over fluid flow rates, droplet and microgel uniformity, which are key selling points of microfluidics in material design. To address these challenges, we utilize microflow cells with integrated electrodes, which enable fast addition and mixing of hydrogel precursors on demand by means of emulsion droplet coalescence. Here, two populations of surfactant-stabilized aqueous droplets - the first containing the material basis of the microgel, and the second containing another gel-forming component (e.g., a crosslinker) are formed at two consecutive microchannel junctions and merged via temporary thin-film instability. Our approach provides the ability to process such hydrogel systems that are otherwise challenging to process into uniform droplets and microgels by conventional droplet microfluidics. To demonstrate its versatility, we fabricate microgels with uniform shape and composition using fast hydrogelation via thiol-Michael addition reaction or non-covalent self-assembly. Furthermore, we elucidate the limitations of electrocoalescence of reactive hydrogel precursors by processing sodium alginate, crosslinked by calcium-induced ionic interactions. For this instantaneous type of hydrogelation, electrocoalescence of alginate and calcium ions does not result in the formation of morphologically isotropic microgels. Instead, it enables the creation of anisotropic microgel morphologies with tunable shape, which have previously only been achieved by selective crosslinking of elaborate higher-order emulsions or by aqueous two-phase systems as microgel templates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Hauck
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Talika A Neuendorf
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Max J Männel
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Lucas Vogel
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Ping Liu
- B CUBE Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Enno Stündel
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
| | - Yixin Zhang
- B CUBE Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Tatzberg 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julian Thiele
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
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Zheng Y, Wu Z, Lin L, Zheng X, Hou Y, Lin JM. Microfluidic droplet-based functional materials for cell manipulation. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4311-4329. [PMID: 34668510 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00618e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Functional materials from the microfluidic-based droplet community are emerging as enabling tools for various applications in tissue engineering and cell biology. The innovative micro- and nano-scale materials with diverse sizes, shapes and components can be fabricated without the use of complicated devices, allowing unprecedented control over the cells that interact with them. Here, we review the current development of microfluidic-based droplet techniques for creation of functional materials (i.e., liquid droplet, microcapsule, and microparticle). We also describe their various applications for manipulating cell fate and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Zheng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Zengnan Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Ling Lin
- Department of Bioengineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, China.
| | - Xiaonan Zheng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Ying Hou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Jin-Ming Lin
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Microanalytical Methods and Instrumentation, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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Grubb ML, Caliari SR. Fabrication approaches for high-throughput and biomimetic disease modeling. Acta Biomater 2021; 132:52-82. [PMID: 33716174 PMCID: PMC8433272 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is often a tradeoff between in vitro disease modeling platforms that capture pathophysiologic complexity and those that are amenable to high-throughput fabrication and analysis. However, this divide is closing through the application of a handful of fabrication approaches-parallel fabrication, automation, and flow-driven assembly-to design sophisticated cellular and biomaterial systems. The purpose of this review is to highlight methods for the fabrication of high-throughput biomaterial-based platforms and showcase examples that demonstrate their utility over a range of throughput and complexity. We conclude with a discussion of future considerations for the continued development of higher-throughput in vitro platforms that capture the appropriate level of biological complexity for the desired application. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: There is a pressing need for new biomedical tools to study and understand disease. These platforms should mimic the complex properties of the body while also permitting investigation of many combinations of cells, extracellular cues, and/or therapeutics in high-throughput. This review summarizes emerging strategies to fabricate biomimetic disease models that bridge the gap between complex tissue-mimicking microenvironments and high-throughput screens for personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie L Grubb
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Unites States
| | - Steven R Caliari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Unites States; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia, Unites States.
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Ramos-Rodriguez DH, MacNeil S, Claeyssens F, Asencio IO. The Use of Microfabrication Techniques for the Design and Manufacture of Artificial Stem Cell Microenvironments for Tissue Regeneration. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:50. [PMID: 33922428 PMCID: PMC8146165 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8050050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The recapitulation of the stem cell microenvironment is an emerging area of research that has grown significantly in the last 10 to 15 years. Being able to understand the underlying mechanisms that relate stem cell behavior to the physical environment in which stem cells reside is currently a challenge that many groups are trying to unravel. Several approaches have attempted to mimic the biological components that constitute the native stem cell niche, however, this is a very intricate environment and, although promising advances have been made recently, it becomes clear that new strategies need to be explored to ensure a better understanding of the stem cell niche behavior. The second strand in stem cell niche research focuses on the use of manufacturing techniques to build simple but functional models; these models aim to mimic the physical features of the niche environment which have also been demonstrated to play a big role in directing cell responses. This second strand has involved a more engineering approach in which a wide set of microfabrication techniques have been explored in detail. This review aims to summarize the use of these microfabrication techniques and how they have approached the challenge of mimicking the native stem cell niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H. Ramos-Rodriguez
- Bioengineering and Health Technologies Group, The School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA, UK;
- Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (S.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Sheila MacNeil
- Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (S.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Frederik Claeyssens
- Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, UK; (S.M.); (F.C.)
| | - Ilida Ortega Asencio
- Bioengineering and Health Technologies Group, The School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TA, UK;
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7
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Sun M, Liu A, Yang X, Gong J, Yu M, Yao X, Wang H, He Y. 3D Cell Culture—Can It Be As Popular as 2D Cell Culture? ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202000066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Miao Sun
- The Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology School of Stomatology Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province Hangzhou Zhejiang 310000 China
| | - An Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Second Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310000 China
| | - Xiaofu Yang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology School of Stomatology Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province Hangzhou Zhejiang 310000 China
| | - Jiaxing Gong
- The Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology School of Stomatology Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province Hangzhou Zhejiang 310000 China
| | - Mengfei Yu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology School of Stomatology Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province Hangzhou Zhejiang 310000 China
| | - Xinhua Yao
- Key Laboratory of 3D Printing Process and Equipment of Zhejiang Province School of Mechanical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310000 China
| | - Huiming Wang
- The Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology School of Stomatology Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province Hangzhou Zhejiang 310000 China
| | - Yong He
- Key Laboratory of 3D Printing Process and Equipment of Zhejiang Province School of Mechanical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310000 China
- State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems School of Mechanical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310000 China
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8
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Kupikowska-Stobba B, Lewińska D. Polymer microcapsules and microbeads as cell carriers for in vivo biomedical applications. Biomater Sci 2020; 8:1536-1574. [PMID: 32110789 DOI: 10.1039/c9bm01337g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Polymer microcarriers are being extensively explored as cell delivery vehicles in cell-based therapies and hybrid tissue and organ engineering. Spherical microcarriers are of particular interest due to easy fabrication and injectability. They include microbeads, composed of a porous matrix, and microcapsules, where matrix core is additionally covered with a semipermeable membrane. Microcarriers provide cell containment at implantation site and protect the cells from host immunoresponse, degradation and shear stress. Immobilized cells may be genetically altered to release a specific therapeutic product directly at the target site, eliminating side effects of systemic therapies. Cell microcarriers need to fulfil a number of extremely high standards regarding their biocompatibility, cytocompatibility, immunoisolating capacity, transport, mechanical and chemical properties. To obtain cell microcarriers of specified parameters, a wide variety of polymers, both natural and synthetic, and immobilization methods can be applied. Yet so far, only a few approaches based on cell-laden microcarriers have reached clinical trials. The main issue that still impedes progress of these systems towards clinical application is limited cell survival in vivo. Herein, we review polymer biomaterials and methods used for fabrication of cell microcarriers for in vivo biomedical applications. We describe their key limitations and modifications aiming at improvement of microcarrier in vivo performance. We also present the main applications of polymer cell microcarriers in regenerative medicine, pancreatic islet and hepatocyte transplantation and in the treatment of cancer. Lastly, we outline the main challenges in cell microimmobilization for biomedical purposes, the strategies to overcome these issues and potential future improvements in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Kupikowska-Stobba
- Laboratory of Electrostatic Methods of Bioencapsulation, Department of Biomaterials and Biotechnological Systems, Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Trojdena 4, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Dorota Lewińska
- Laboratory of Electrostatic Methods of Bioencapsulation, Department of Biomaterials and Biotechnological Systems, Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Trojdena 4, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland.
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9
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Toia F, Di Stefano AB, Muscolino E, Sabatino MA, Giacomazza D, Moschella F, Cordova A, Dispenza C. In-situ gelling xyloglucan formulations as 3D artificial niche for adipose stem cell spheroids. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 165:2886-2899. [PMID: 33470202 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.10.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Three-dimensional spheroidal cell aggregates of adipose stem cells (SASCs) are a distinct upstream population of stem cells present in adipose tissue, with enhanced regeneration properties in vivo. The preservation of the 3D structure of the cells, from extraction to administration, can be a promising strategy to ensure optimal conditions for cell viability and maintenance of stemness potential. With this aim, an artificial niche was created by incorporating the spheroids into an injectable, in-situ gelling solution of partially degalactosylated xyloglucan (dXG) and an ad hoc formulated culture medium for the preservation of stem cell spheroid features. The evolution of the mechanical properties and the morphological structure of this artificial niche was investigated by small amplitude rheological analysis and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Comparatively, systems produced with the same polymer and the typical culture medium (DMEM) used for adipose stem cell (ASC) growth in adherent cell culture conditions were also characterised. Cell viability of both SASCs and ASCs incorporated inside the hydrogel or seeded on top of the hydrogel were investigated as well as the preservation of SASC stemness conditions when embedded in the hydrogel.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Toia
- Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Stomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy; BIOPLAST-Laboratory of BIOlogy and Regenerative Medicine-PLASTic Surgery, Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Stomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - A B Di Stefano
- BIOPLAST-Laboratory of BIOlogy and Regenerative Medicine-PLASTic Surgery, Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Stomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - E Muscolino
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - M A Sabatino
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - D Giacomazza
- Istituto di BioFisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - F Moschella
- BIOPLAST-Laboratory of BIOlogy and Regenerative Medicine-PLASTic Surgery, Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Stomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - A Cordova
- Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Stomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy; BIOPLAST-Laboratory of BIOlogy and Regenerative Medicine-PLASTic Surgery, Dipartimento di Discipline Chirurgiche, Oncologiche e Stomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Palermo, via del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - C Dispenza
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze 6, 90128 Palermo, Italy; Istituto di BioFisica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via U. La Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
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10
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Caldwell AS, Aguado BA, Anseth KS. Designing Microgels for Cell Culture and Controlled Assembly of Tissue Microenvironments. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2020; 30:1907670. [PMID: 33841061 PMCID: PMC8026140 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201907670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Micron-sized hydrogels, termed microgels, are emerging as multifunctional platforms that can recapitulate tissue heterogeneity in engineered cell microenvironments. The microgels can function as either individual cell culture units or can be assembled into larger scaffolds. In this manner, individual microgels can be customized for single or multi-cell co-culture applications, or heterogeneous populations can be used as building blocks to create microporous assembled scaffolds that more closely mimic tissue heterogeneities. The inherent versatility of these materials allows user-defined control of the microenvironments, from the order of singly encapsulated cells to entire three-dimensional cell scaffolds. These hydrogel scaffolds are promising for moving towards personalized medicine approaches and recapitulating the multifaceted microenvironments that exist in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander S. Caldwell
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado – Boulder, USA, 80303
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado – Boulder, USA, 80303
| | - Brian A. Aguado
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado – Boulder, USA, 80303
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado – Boulder, USA, 80303
| | - Kristi S. Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado – Boulder, USA, 80303
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado – Boulder, USA, 80303
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11
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Nicolas J, Magli S, Rabbachin L, Sampaolesi S, Nicotra F, Russo L. 3D Extracellular Matrix Mimics: Fundamental Concepts and Role of Materials Chemistry to Influence Stem Cell Fate. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:1968-1994. [PMID: 32227919 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic 3D extracellular matrices (ECMs) find application in cell studies, regenerative medicine, and drug discovery. While cells cultured in a monolayer may exhibit unnatural behavior and develop very different phenotypes and genotypes than in vivo, great efforts in materials chemistry have been devoted to reproducing in vitro behavior in in vivo cell microenvironments. This requires fine-tuning the biochemical and structural actors in synthetic ECMs. This review will present the fundamentals of the ECM, cover the chemical and structural features of the scaffolds used to generate ECM mimics, discuss the nature of the signaling biomolecules required and exploited to generate bioresponsive cell microenvironments able to induce a specific cell fate, and highlight the synthetic strategies involved in creating functional 3D ECM mimics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Nicolas
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, , 92296 Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Sofia Magli
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Rabbachin
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Susanna Sampaolesi
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Nicotra
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Russo
- University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milan, Italy
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12
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Song K, Li G, Zu X, Du Z, Liu L, Hu Z. The Fabrication and Application Mechanism of Microfluidic Systems for High Throughput Biomedical Screening: A Review. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E297. [PMID: 32168977 PMCID: PMC7143183 DOI: 10.3390/mi11030297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic systems have been widely explored based on microfluidic technology, and it has been widely used for biomedical screening. The key parts are the fabrication of the base scaffold, the construction of the matrix environment in the 3D system, and the application mechanism. In recent years, a variety of new materials have emerged, meanwhile, some new technologies have been developed. In this review, we highlight the properties of high throughput and the biomedical application of the microfluidic chip and focus on the recent progress of the fabrication and application mechanism. The emergence of various biocompatible materials has provided more available raw materials for microfluidic chips. The material is not confined to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and the extracellular microenvironment is not limited by a natural matrix. The mechanism is also developed in diverse ways, including its special physical structure and external field effects, such as dielectrophoresis, magnetophoresis, and acoustophoresis. Furthermore, the cell/organ-based microfluidic system provides a new platform for drug screening due to imitating the anatomic and physiologic properties in vivo. Although microfluidic technology is currently mostly in the laboratory stage, it has great potential for commercial applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kena Song
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, He’nan 471023, China; (K.S.); (X.Z.); (Z.D.)
| | - Guoqiang Li
- College of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China; (G.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Xiangyang Zu
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, He’nan 471023, China; (K.S.); (X.Z.); (Z.D.)
| | - Zhe Du
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, He’nan 471023, China; (K.S.); (X.Z.); (Z.D.)
| | - Liyu Liu
- College of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China; (G.L.); (L.L.)
| | - Zhigang Hu
- College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, He’nan 471023, China; (K.S.); (X.Z.); (Z.D.)
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13
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Mohamed MGA, Ambhorkar P, Samanipour R, Yang A, Ghafoor A, Kim K. Microfluidics-based fabrication of cell-laden microgels. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2020; 14:021501. [PMID: 32161630 PMCID: PMC7058428 DOI: 10.1063/1.5134060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidic principles have been extensively utilized as powerful tools to fabricate controlled monodisperse cell-laden hydrogel microdroplets for various biological applications, especially tissue engineering. In this review, we report recent advances in microfluidic-based droplet fabrication and provide our rationale to justify the superiority of microfluidics-based techniques over other microtechnology methods in achieving the encapsulation of cells within hydrogels. The three main components of such a system-hydrogels, cells, and device configurations-are examined thoroughly. First, the characteristics of various types of hydrogels including natural and synthetic types, especially concerning cell encapsulation, are examined. This is followed by the elucidation of the reasoning behind choosing specific cells for encapsulation. Next, in addition to a detailed discussion of their respective droplet formation mechanisms, various device configurations including T-junctions, flow-focusing, and co-flowing that aid in achieving cell encapsulation are critically reviewed. We then present an outlook on the current applications of cell-laden hydrogel droplets in tissue engineering such as 3D cell culturing, rapid generation and repair of tissues, and their usage as platforms for studying cell-cell and cell-microenvironment interactions. Finally, we shed some light upon the prospects of microfluidics-based production of cell-laden microgels and propose some directions for forthcoming research that can aid in overcoming challenges currently impeding the translation of the technology into clinical success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed G. A. Mohamed
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Pranav Ambhorkar
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Roya Samanipour
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Annie Yang
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Ali Ghafoor
- Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada
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14
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Daly AC, Riley L, Segura T, Burdick JA. Hydrogel microparticles for biomedical applications. NATURE REVIEWS. MATERIALS 2020; 5:20-43. [PMID: 34123409 PMCID: PMC8191408 DOI: 10.1038/s41578-019-0148-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 494] [Impact Index Per Article: 123.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogel microparticles (HMPs) are promising for biomedical applications, ranging from the therapeutic delivery of cells and drugs to the production of scaffolds for tissue repair and bioinks for 3D printing. Biologics (cells and drugs) can be encapsulated into HMPs of predefined shapes and sizes using a variety of fabrication techniques (batch emulsion, microfluidics, lithography, electrohydrodynamic (EHD) spraying and mechanical fragmentation). HMPs can be formulated in suspensions to deliver therapeutics, as aggregates of particles (granular hydrogels) to form microporous scaffolds that promote cell infiltration or embedded within a bulk hydrogel to obtain multiscale behaviours. HMP suspensions and granular hydrogels can be injected for minimally invasive delivery of biologics, and they exhibit modular properties when comprised of mixtures of distinct HMP populations. In this Review, we discuss the fabrication techniques that are available for fabricating HMPs, as well as the multiscale behaviours of HMP systems and their functional properties, highlighting their advantages over traditional bulk hydrogels. Furthermore, we discuss applications of HMPs in the fields of cell delivery, drug delivery, scaffold design and biofabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Daly
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Andrew C. Daly, Lindsay Riley
| | - Lindsay Riley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- These authors contributed equally: Andrew C. Daly, Lindsay Riley
| | - Tatiana Segura
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Departments of Dermatology and Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jason A Burdick
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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15
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Kim JA, Hong S, Rhee WJ. Microfluidic three-dimensional cell culture of stem cells for high-throughput analysis. World J Stem Cells 2019; 11:803-816. [PMID: 31693013 PMCID: PMC6828593 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v11.i10.803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the recent advances in stem cell engineering have gained a great deal of attention due to their high potential in clinical research, the applicability of stem cells for preclinical screening in the drug discovery process is still challenging due to difficulties in controlling the stem cell microenvironment and the limited availability of high-throughput systems. Recently, researchers have been actively developing and evaluating three-dimensional (3D) cell culture-based platforms using microfluidic technologies, such as organ-on-a-chip and organoid-on-a-chip platforms, and they have achieved promising breakthroughs in stem cell engineering. In this review, we start with a comprehensive discussion on the importance of microfluidic 3D cell culture techniques in stem cell research and their technical strategies in the field of drug discovery. In a subsequent section, we discuss microfluidic 3D cell culture techniques for high-throughput analysis for use in stem cell research. In addition, some potential and practical applications of organ-on-a-chip or organoid-on-a-chip platforms using stem cells as drug screening and disease models are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Ah Kim
- Research Center for Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju 28119, South Korea
- Department of Bio-Analytical Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, South Korea
| | - Soohyun Hong
- Research Center for Bioconvergence Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju 28119, South Korea
- Program in Biomicro System Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, South Korea
| | - Won Jong Rhee
- Division of Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, South Korea
- Department of Bioengineering and Nano-Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, South Korea
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16
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Langer K, Joensson HN. Rapid Production and Recovery of Cell Spheroids by Automated Droplet Microfluidics. SLAS Technol 2019; 25:111-122. [PMID: 31561747 DOI: 10.1177/2472630319877376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The future of the life sciences is linked to automation and microfluidics. As robots start working side by side with scientists, robotic automation of microfluidics in general, and droplet microfluidics in particular, will significantly extend and accelerate the life sciences. Here, we demonstrate the automation of droplet microfluidics using an inexpensive liquid-handling robot to produce human scaffold-free cell spheroids at high throughput. We use pipette actuation and interface the pipetting tip with a droplet-generating microfluidic device. In this device, we produce highly monodisperse droplets with a diameter coefficient of variation (CV) lower than 2%. By encapsulating cells in these droplets, we produce cell spheroids in droplets and recover them to standard labware containers at a throughput of 85,000 spheroids per microfluidic circuit per hour. The viability of the cells in spheroids remains high throughout the process and decreases by >10% (depending on the cell line used) after a 16 h incubation period in nanoliter droplets and automated recovery. Scaffold-free cell spheroids and 3D tissue constructs recapitulate many aspects of functional human tissue more accurately than 2D or single-cell cultures, but assembly methods for spheroids (e.g., hanging drop microplates) have limited throughput. The increased throughput and decreased cost of our method enable spheroid production at the scale needed for lead discovery drug screening, and approach the cost at which these microtissues could be used as building blocks for organ-scale regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Langer
- Division of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Haakan N Joensson
- Division of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability at KTH, Stockholm, Sweden
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17
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Cold-adaptation of a methacrylamide gelatin towards the expansion of the biomaterial toolbox for specialized functionalities in tissue engineering. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2019; 102:373-390. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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18
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Srivastava SK, Ajalloueian F, Boisen A. Thread-Like Radical-Polymerization via Autonomously Propelled (TRAP) Bots. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1901573. [PMID: 31165526 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201901573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Micromotor-mediated synthesis of thread-like hydrogel microstructures in an aqueous environment is presented. The study utilizes a catalytic micromotor assembly (owing to the presence of a Pt layer), with an on-board chemical reservoir (i.e., polymerization mixture), toward thread-like radical-polymerization via autonomously propelled bots (i.e., TRAP bots). Synergistic coupling of catalytically active Pt layer, together with radical initiators (H2 O2 and FeCl3 (III)), and PEGDA monomers preloaded into the TRAP bot, results in the polymerization of monomeric units into elongated thread-like hydrogel polymers coupled with self-propulsion. Interestingly, polymer generation via TRAP bots can also be triggered in the absence of hydrogen peroxide for cellular/biomedical application. The resulting polymeric hydrogel microstructures are able to entrap living cells (NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells), and are easily separable via a centrifugation or magnetic separation (owing to the presence of a Ni layer). The cellular biocompatibility of TRAP bots is established via a LIVE/DEAD assay and MTS cell proliferation assay (7 days observation). This is the first study demonstrating real-time in situ hydrogel polymerization via an artificial microswimmer, capable of enmeshing biotic/abiotic microobjects in its reaction environment, and lays a strong foundation for advanced applications in cell/tissue engineering, drug delivery, and cleaner technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarvesh Kumar Srivastava
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics (IDUN), Department of Healthcare Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Fatemeh Ajalloueian
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics (IDUN), Department of Healthcare Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anja Boisen
- Center for Intelligent Drug Delivery and Sensing Using Microcontainers and Nanomechanics (IDUN), Department of Healthcare Technology, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Lyngby, Denmark
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19
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Wieduwild R, Xu Y, Ostrovidov S, Khademhosseini A, Zhang Y, Orive G. Engineering Hydrogels beyond a Hydrated Network. Adv Healthc Mater 2019; 8:e1900038. [PMID: 30990968 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201900038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, many mechanical, physical, chemical, and biochemical features of biomatrices have emerged as important properties to dictate the fates of cells. To construct chemically defined biomaterials to recapitulate various biological niches for both cell biology research and therapeutic utilities, it has become increasingly clear that a simple hydrated polymer network would not be able to provide the complex cues and signaling required for many types of cells. The researchers are facing a growing list of mechanophysical and biochemical properties, while each of them could be an important cellular trigger. To include all these design parameters in screening and synthesis is practically difficult, if not impossible. Developing novel high throughput screening technology by combining assay miniaturization, computer simulations, and modeling can help researchers to tackle the challenge to identify the most relevant parameters to tailor materials for specific applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Wieduwild
- Rudolf‐Schönheimer‐Institute of BiochemistryFaculty of MedicineLeipzig University Johannisallee 30 04103 Leipzig Germany
| | - Yong Xu
- B CUBE Center for Molecular BioengineeringTechnische Universität Dresden Tatzberg 41 01307 Dresden Germany
| | - Serge Ostrovidov
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C‐MIT) Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
- Department of Radiological SciencesUniversity of California ‐ Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C‐MIT) Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of California ‐ Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
- Department of Radiological SciencesUniversity of California ‐ Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular EngineeringUniversity of California ‐ Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
- California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI)University of California ‐ Los Angeles Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
| | - Yixin Zhang
- B CUBE Center for Molecular BioengineeringTechnische Universität Dresden Tatzberg 41 01307 Dresden Germany
| | - Gorka Orive
- NanoBioCel GroupLaboratory of PharmaceuticsSchool of PharmacyUniversity of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Paseo de la Universidad 7 01006 Vitoria‐Gasteiz Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in BioengineeringBiomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER‐BBN) Vitoria‐Gasteiz 01006 Spain
- University Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Oral Implantology ‐ UIRMI (UPV/EHU‐Fundación Eduardo Anitua) Vitoria 01007 Spain
- Singapore Eye Research InstituteThe Academia 20 College Road, Discovery Tower Singapore
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20
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Abstract
Single-cell analysis serves as an important approach to study cell functions and interactions. Catering to the demand of Big Data Era, fast reactions for single cells and paralleled high-throughput analysis have become an urgent need. Microdroplet in microfluidics has advantages of modularity and integrity, as well as high throughput and sensitivity, which present great potential in the field of single-cell analysis. This review is carried out on three aspects to introduce microdroplet chips for single-cell analysis: droplet formation, droplet detection and practical functions. Structures of droplet formation are categorized into three types, including T-shaped channel, flow-involved channel and three-dimensional micro-vortice. The detection methods, including fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and electrochemical detection, are summarized from applications. Both pros and cons for existing techniques are reviewed and discussed. The functions of microdroplets-on-chip cover cell culture, nucleic acid test and cell identification. For each field, principles/mechanisms and/or schematic images are laconically introduced. Microdroplet in microfluidics has become a major research direction in single-cell analysis. With updated methods of droplet formation such as inertial ordering and micro-vortice, microdroplets-based biochips will expect high throughput detection and high-accuracy trace detection for clinical diagnosis in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aihui Wang
- 1 Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,2 State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Institute for Personalized Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,3 School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Aynur Abdulla
- 1 Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,2 State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Institute for Personalized Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianting Ding
- 1 Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,2 State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Institute for Personalized Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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21
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Wang Y, Guo L, Dong S, Cui J, Hao J. Microgels in biomaterials and nanomedicines. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 266:1-20. [PMID: 30776711 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Microgels are colloidal particles with crosslinked polymer networks and dimensions ranging from tens of nanometers to micrometers. Specifically, smart microgels are fascinating capable of responding to biological signals in vivo or remote triggers and making the possible for applications in biomaterials and biomedicines. Therefore, how to fundamentally design microgels is an urgent problem to be solved. In this review, we put forward our important fundamental opinions on how to devise the intelligent microgels for cancer therapy, biosensing and biological lubrication. We focus on the design ideas instead of specific implementation process by employing reverse synthesis analysis to programme the microgels at the original stage. Moreover, special insights will be, for the first time, as far as we know, dedicated to the particles completely composed of DNA or proteins into microgel systems. These are discussed in detail in this review. We expect to give readers a broad overview of the design criteria and practical methodologies of microgels according to the application fields, as well as to propel the further developments of highly interesting concepts and materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Special Aggregated Materials (Shandong University), Ministry of Education, Jinan 250100, PR China
| | - Luxuan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Special Aggregated Materials (Shandong University), Ministry of Education, Jinan 250100, PR China
| | - Shuli Dong
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Special Aggregated Materials (Shandong University), Ministry of Education, Jinan 250100, PR China
| | - Jiwei Cui
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Special Aggregated Materials (Shandong University), Ministry of Education, Jinan 250100, PR China.
| | - Jingcheng Hao
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry & Key Laboratory of Special Aggregated Materials (Shandong University), Ministry of Education, Jinan 250100, PR China.
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22
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Wechsler ME, Stephenson RE, Murphy AC, Oldenkamp HF, Singh A, Peppas NA. Engineered microscale hydrogels for drug delivery, cell therapy, and sequencing. Biomed Microdevices 2019; 21:31. [PMID: 30904963 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-019-0358-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Engineered microscale hydrogels have emerged as promising therapeutic approaches for the treatment of various diseases. These microgels find wide application in the biomedical field because of the ease of injectability, controlled release of therapeutics, flexible means of synthesis, associated tunability, and can be engineered as stimuli-responsive. While bulk hydrogels of several length-scale dimensions have been used for over two decades in drug delivery applications, their use as microscale carriers of drug and cell-based therapies is relatively new. Herein, we critically summarize the fundamentals of hydrogels based on their equilibrium and dynamics of their molecular structure, as well as solute diffusion as it relates to drug delivery. In addition, examples of common microgel synthesis techniques are provided. The ability to tune microscale hydrogels to obtain controlled release of therapeutics is discussed, along with microgel considerations for cell encapsulation as it relates to the development of cell-based therapies. We conclude with an outlook on the use of microgels for cell sequencing, and the convergence of the use of microscale hydrogels for drug delivery, cell therapy, and cell sequencing based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa E Wechsler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Regan E Stephenson
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Andrew C Murphy
- Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Heidi F Oldenkamp
- Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ankur Singh
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas A Peppas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Institute for Biomaterials, Drug Delivery, and Regenerative Medicine, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care, and Department of Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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23
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Tourné-Péteilh C, Robin B, Lions M, Martinez J, Mehdi A, Subra G, Devoisselle JM. Combining sol–gel and microfluidics processes for the synthesis of protein-containing hybrid microgels. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:13112-13115. [DOI: 10.1039/c9cc04963k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Biocompatible encapsulation of proteins in hybrid microgels of a silylated hydrogel, focused on soft procedures and cross-linking conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ahmad Mehdi
- ICGM
- University of Montpellier
- CNRS
- ENSCM
- Montpellier
| | - Gilles Subra
- IBMM
- University of Montpellier
- CNRS
- ENSCM
- Montpellier
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24
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25
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Morimoto Y, Mori N, Takeuchi S. In Vitro Tissue Construction for Organ-on-a-Chip Applications. Bioanalysis 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-6229-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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26
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Stewart SA, Coulson MB, Zhou C, Burke NAD, Stöver HDH. Synthetic hydrogels formed by thiol-ene crosslinking of vinyl sulfone-functional poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) with α,ω-dithio-polyethyleneglycol. SOFT MATTER 2018; 14:8317-8324. [PMID: 30288534 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm01066h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Polymer hydrogels formed by rapid thiol-ene coupling of macromolecular gel formers can offer access to versatile new matrices. This paper describes the efficient synthesis of cysteamine vinyl sulfone (CVS) trifluoroacetate, and its incorporation into poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMMAn) to form a series of CVS-functionalized poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) polymers (PMM-CVSx) containing 10 to 30 mol% pendant vinyl sulfone groups. Aqueous mixtures of these PMM-CVS and a dithiol crosslinker, α,ω-dithio-polyethyleneglycol (HS-PEG-SH, Mn = 1 kDa), gelled through crosslinking by Michael addition within seconds to minutes, depending on pH, degree of functionalization, and polymer loading. Gelation efficiency, Young's modulus, equilibrium swelling and hydrolytic stability are described, and step-wise hydrogel post-functionalization with a small molecule thiol, cysteamine, was demonstrated. Cytocompatibility of these crosslinked hydrogels towards entrapped 3T3 fibroblasts was confirmed using a live/dead fluorescence assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Stewart
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada.
| | - M B Coulson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada.
| | - C Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada.
| | - N A D Burke
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada.
| | - H D H Stöver
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada.
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27
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Jiang Z, Jiang K, McBride R, Oakey JS. Comparative cytocompatibility of multiple candidate cell types to photoencapsulation in PEGNB/PEGDA macroscale or microscale hydrogels. Biomed Mater 2018; 13:065012. [PMID: 30191888 PMCID: PMC6215765 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/aadf9a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The encapsulation of live cells into photopolymerized hydrogel scaffolds has the potential to augment or repair tissue defects, establish versatile regenerative medicine strategies, and be developed as well-defined, yet tunable microenvironments to study fundamental cellular behavior. However, hydrogel fabrication limitations constrain most studies to macroscale hydrogel scaffolds encapsulating millions of cells. These macroscale materials possess regions of heterogeneous photopolymerization conditions and are therefore poor platforms to identify the response of individual cells to encapsulation. Recently, microfluidic droplet-based hydrogel miniaturization and cell encapsulation offers high-throughput, reproducible, and continuous fabrication. Reports of post-encapsulation cell viability, however, vary widely among specific techniques. Furthermore, different cell types often exhibit different level of tolerance to photoencapsulation-induced toxicity. Accordingly, we evaluate the cellular tolerance of various encapsulation techniques and photopolymerization parameters for four mammalian cell types, with potential applications in tissue regeneration, using polyethylene glycol diacrylate or polyethylene glycol norbornene (PEGNB) hydrogels on micro- and macro-length scales. We found PEGNB provides excellent cellular tolerance and supports long-term cell survival by mitigating the deleterious effects of acrylate photopolymerization, which are exacerbated at diminishing volumes. PEGNB, therefore, is an excellent candidate for hydrogel miniaturization. PEGNB hydrogel properties, however, were found to have variable effects on encapsulating different cell candidates. This study could provide guidance for cell encapsulation practices in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongliang Jiang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States of America
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28
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Motlaq VF, Knudsen KD, Nyström B. Effect of PEGylation on the stability of thermoresponsive nanogels. J Colloid Interface Sci 2018; 524:245-255. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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29
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Acevedo JP, Angelopoulos I, van Noort D, Khoury M. Microtechnology applied to stem cells research and development. Regen Med 2018; 13:233-248. [PMID: 29557299 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2017-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfabrication and microfluidics contribute to the research of cellular functions of cells and their interaction with their environment. Previously, it has been shown that microfluidics can contribute to the isolation, selection, characterization and migration of cells. This review aims to provide stem cell researchers with a toolkit of microtechnology (mT) instruments for elucidating complex stem cells functions which are challenging to decipher with traditional assays and animal models. These microdevices are able to investigate about the differentiation and niche interaction, stem cells transcriptomics, therapeutic functions and the capture of their secreted microvesicles. In conclusion, microtechnology will allow a more realistic assessment of stem cells properties, driving and accelerating the translation of regenerative medicine approaches to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Acevedo
- Laboratory of Nano-Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago, Chile.,Cells for Cells, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ioannis Angelopoulos
- Laboratory of Nano-Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago, Chile.,Cells for Cells, Santiago, Chile
| | - Danny van Noort
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile.,Biotechnology, IFM, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Maroun Khoury
- Laboratory of Nano-Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Santiago, Chile.,Cells for Cells, Santiago, Chile.,Consorcio Regenero, Santiago, Chile
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Vardar E, Larsson H, Allazetta S, Engelhardt E, Pinnagoda K, Vythilingam G, Hubbell J, Lutolf M, Frey P. Microfluidic production of bioactive fibrin micro-beads embedded in crosslinked collagen used as an injectable bulking agent for urinary incontinence treatment. Acta Biomater 2018; 67:156-166. [PMID: 29197579 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2017.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 11/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Endoscopic injection of bulking agents has been widely used to treat urinary incontinence, often due to urethral sphincter complex insufficiency. The aim of the study was to develop a novel injectable bioactive collagen-fibrin bulking agent restoring long-term continence by functional muscle tissue regeneration. Fibrin micro-beads were engineered using a droplet microfluidic system. They had an average diameter of 140 μm and recombinant fibrin-binding insulin-like growth factor-1 (α2PI1-8-MMP-IGF-1) was covalently conjugated to the beads. A plasmin fibrin degradation assay showed that 72.5% of the initial amount of α2PI1-8-MMP-IGF-1 loaded into the micro-beads was retained within the fibrin micro-beads. In vitro, the growth factor modified fibrin micro-beads enhanced cell attachment and the migration of human urinary tract smooth muscle cells, however, no change of the cellular metabolic activity was seen. These bioactive micro-beads were mixed with genipin-crosslinked homogenized collagen, acting as a carrier. The collagen concentration, the degree of crosslinking, and the mechanical behavior of this bioactive collagen-fibrin injectable were comparable to reference samples. This novel injectable showed no burst release of the growth factor, had a positive effect on cell behavior and may therefore induce smooth muscle regeneration in vivo, necessary for the functional treatment of stress and other urinary incontinences. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Urinary incontinence is involuntary urine leakage, resulting from a deficient function of the sphincter muscle complex. Yet there is no functional cure for this devastating condition using current treatment options. Applied physical and surgical therapies have limited success. In this study, a novel bioactive injectable bulking agent, triggering new muscle regeneration at the injection site, has been evaluated. This injectable consists of cross-linked collagen and fibrin micro-beads, functionalized with bound insulin-like growth factor-1 (α2PI1-8-MMP-IGF-1). These bioactive fibrin micro-beads induced human smooth muscle cell migration in vitro. Thus, this injectable bulking agent is apt to be a good candidate for regeneration of urethral sphincter muscle, ensuring a long-lasting treatment for urinary incontinence.
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Geraili A, Jafari P, Hassani MS, Araghi BH, Mohammadi MH, Ghafari AM, Tamrin SH, Modarres HP, Kolahchi AR, Ahadian S, Sanati-Nezhad A. Controlling Differentiation of Stem Cells for Developing Personalized Organ-on-Chip Platforms. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7. [PMID: 28910516 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201700426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Organ-on-chip (OOC) platforms have attracted attentions of pharmaceutical companies as powerful tools for screening of existing drugs and development of new drug candidates. OOCs have primarily used human cell lines or primary cells to develop biomimetic tissue models. However, the ability of human stem cells in unlimited self-renewal and differentiation into multiple lineages has made them attractive for OOCs. The microfluidic technology has enabled precise control of stem cell differentiation using soluble factors, biophysical cues, and electromagnetic signals. This study discusses different tissue- and organ-on-chip platforms (i.e., skin, brain, blood-brain barrier, bone marrow, heart, liver, lung, tumor, and vascular), with an emphasis on the critical role of stem cells in the synthesis of complex tissues. This study further recaps the design, fabrication, high-throughput performance, and improved functionality of stem-cell-based OOCs, technical challenges, obstacles against implementing their potential applications, and future perspectives related to different experimental platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armin Geraili
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi, Tehran 14588-89694 Iran
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering; Western University; London N6A 5B9 ON Canada
| | - Parya Jafari
- Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering; Western University; London N6A 5B9 ON Canada
- Department of Electrical Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi, Tehran 14588-89694 Iran
| | - Mohsen Sheikh Hassani
- Department of Systems and Computer Engineering; Carleton University; 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa K1S 5B6 ON Canada
| | - Behnaz Heidary Araghi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Sharif University of Technology; Azadi, Tehran 14588-89694 Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S 3G9 Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Amir Mohammad Ghafari
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology; Cell Science Research Center; Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology; Tehran 16635-148 Iran
| | - Sara Hasanpour Tamrin
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory (BioM); Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
| | - Hassan Pezeshgi Modarres
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory (BioM); Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
| | - Ahmad Rezaei Kolahchi
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory (BioM); Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
| | - Samad Ahadian
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering; University of Toronto; Toronto ON M5S 3G9 Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry; University of Toronto; Toronto Ontario M5S 3E5 Canada
| | - Amir Sanati-Nezhad
- BioMEMS and Bioinspired Microfluidic Laboratory (BioM); Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
- Center for Bioengineering Research and Education; Biomedical Engineering Program; University of Calgary; Calgary T2N 1N4 AB Canada
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Sivakumaran D, Mueller E, Hoare T. Microfluidic production of degradable thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgels. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:9060-9070. [PMID: 29177347 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm01361b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Highly monodisperse and hydrolytically degradable thermoresponsive microgels on the tens-to-hundreds of micron size scale have been fabricated based on simultaneous on-chip mixing and emulsification of aldehyde and hydrazide-functionalized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) precursor polymers. The microfluidic chip can run for extended periods without upstream gelation and can produce monodisperse (<10% particle size variability) microgels on the size range of ∼30-90 μm, with size tunable according to the flow rate of the oil continuous phase. Fluorescence analysis indicates a uniform distribution of each reactive pre-polymer inside the microgels while micromechanical testing suggests that smaller microfluidic-produced microgels exhibit significantly higher compressive moduli compared to bulk hydrogels of the same composition, an effect we attribute to improved mixing (and thus crosslinking) of the precursor polymer solutions within the microfluidic device. The microgels retain the reversible volume phase transition behavior of conventional microgels but can be hydrolytically degraded back into their oligomeric precursor polymer fragments, offering potential for microgel clearance following use in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daryl Sivakumaran
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7, Canada.
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Allazetta S, Negro A, Lutolf MP. Microfluidic Programming of Compositional Hydrogel Landscapes. Macromol Rapid Commun 2017; 38. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.201700255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Allazetta
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering; Institute of Bioengineering; School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering; Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL); CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - A. Negro
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering; Institute of Bioengineering; School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering; Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL); CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - M. P. Lutolf
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering; Institute of Bioengineering; School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering; Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL); CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering; School of Basic Sciences; EPFL; CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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Huang H, Yu Y, Hu Y, He X, Usta OB, Yarmush ML. Generation and manipulation of hydrogel microcapsules by droplet-based microfluidics for mammalian cell culture. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:1913-1932. [PMID: 28509918 PMCID: PMC5548188 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00262a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogel microcapsules provide miniaturized and biocompatible niches for three-dimensional (3D) in vitro cell culture. They can be easily generated by droplet-based microfluidics with tunable size, morphology, and biochemical properties. Therefore, microfluidic generation and manipulation of cell-laden microcapsules can be used for 3D cell culture to mimic the in vivo environment towards applications in tissue engineering and high throughput drug screening. In this review of recent advances mainly since 2010, we will first introduce general characteristics of droplet-based microfluidic devices for cell encapsulation with an emphasis on the fluid dynamics of droplet breakup and internal mixing as they directly influence microcapsule's size and structure. We will then discuss two on-chip manipulation strategies: sorting and extraction from oil into aqueous phase, which can be integrated into droplet-based microfluidics and significantly improve the qualities of cell-laden hydrogel microcapsules. Finally, we will review various applications of hydrogel microencapsulation for 3D in vitro culture on cell growth and proliferation, stem cell differentiation, tissue development, and co-culture of different types of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haishui Huang
- Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital,
Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
02114, United States
| | - Yin Yu
- Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital,
Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
02114, United States
| | - Yong Hu
- Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital,
Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
02114, United States
| | - Xiaoming He
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, USA
| | - O. Berk Usta
- Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital,
Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
02114, United States
| | - Martin L. Yarmush
- Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital,
Harvard Medical School and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, Massachusetts
02114, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University,
Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
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Foster GA, Headen DM, González-García C, Salmerón-Sánchez M, Shirwan H, García AJ. Protease-degradable microgels for protein delivery for vascularization. Biomaterials 2017; 113:170-175. [PMID: 27816000 PMCID: PMC5121008 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Degradable hydrogels to deliver bioactive proteins represent an emerging platform for promoting tissue repair and vascularization in various applications. However, implanting these biomaterials requires invasive surgery, which is associated with complications such as inflammation, scarring, and infection. To address these shortcomings, we applied microfluidics-based polymerization to engineer injectable poly(ethylene glycol) microgels of defined size and crosslinked with a protease degradable peptide to allow for triggered release of proteins. The release rate of proteins covalently tethered within the microgel network was tuned by modifying the ratio of degradable to non-degradable crosslinkers, and the released proteins retained full bioactivity. Microgels injected into the dorsum of mice were maintained in the subcutaneous space and degraded within 2 weeks in response to local proteases. Furthermore, controlled release of VEGF from degradable microgels promoted increased vascularization compared to empty microgels or bolus injection of VEGF. Collectively, this study motivates the use of microgels as a viable method for controlled protein delivery in regenerative medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg A Foster
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA; Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Devon M Headen
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA; Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cristina González-García
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA; Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA; School of Engineering, Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Manuel Salmerón-Sánchez
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA; Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA; School of Engineering, Division of Biomedical Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Haval Shirwan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Andrés J García
- Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA; Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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36
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Shendi D, Albrecht DR, Jain A. Anti-Fas conjugated hyaluronic acid microsphere gels for neural stem cell delivery. J Biomed Mater Res A 2016; 105:608-618. [PMID: 27737520 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) injuries and diseases result in neuronal damage and loss of function. Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) has been shown to improve locomotor function after transplantation. However, due to the immune and inflammatory response at the injury site, the survival rate of the engrafted cells is low. Engrafted cell viability has been shown to increase when transplanted within a hydrogel. Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels have natural anti-inflammatory properties and the backbone can be modified to introduce bioactive agents, such as anti-Fas, which we have previously shown to promote NSC survival while suppressing immune cell activity in bulk hydrogels in vitro. Although bulk HA hydrogels have shown to promote stem cell survival, microsphere gels for NSC encapsulation and delivery may have additional advantages. In this study, a flow-focusing microfluidic device was used to fabricate either vinyl sulfone-modified HA (VS-HA) or anti-Fas-conjugated HA (anti-Fas HA) microsphere gels encapsulated with NSCs. The majority of encapsulated NSCs remained viable for at least 24 h in the VS-HA and anti-Fas HA microsphere gels. Moreover, T-cells cultured in suspension with the anti-Fas HA microsphere gels had reduced viability after contact with the microsphere gels compared to the media control and soluble anti-Fas conditions. This approach can be adapted to encapsulate various cell types for therapeutic strategies in other physiological systems in order to increase survival by reducing the immune response. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 608-618, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Shendi
- Nano-Neural Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Dirk R Albrecht
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Anjana Jain
- Nano-Neural Therapeutics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts
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Rossow T, Lienemann PS, Mooney DJ. Cell Microencapsulation by Droplet Microfluidic Templating. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.201600380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Rossow
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Harvard University; Cambridge MA 02138 USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering; Cambridge MA 02138 USA
| | - Philipp S. Lienemann
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Harvard University; Cambridge MA 02138 USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering; Cambridge MA 02138 USA
| | - David J. Mooney
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Harvard University; Cambridge MA 02138 USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering; Cambridge MA 02138 USA
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38
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Heida T, Neubauer JW, Seuss M, Hauck N, Thiele J, Fery A. Mechanically Defined Microgels by Droplet Microfluidics. MACROMOL CHEM PHYS 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/macp.201600418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Heida
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics; Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V; Hohe Str. 6 01069 Dresden Germany
| | - Jens W. Neubauer
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics; Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V; Hohe Str. 6 01069 Dresden Germany
| | - Maximilian Seuss
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics; Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V; Hohe Str. 6 01069 Dresden Germany
| | - Nicolas Hauck
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics; Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V; Hohe Str. 6 01069 Dresden Germany
- Leibniz Research Cluster (LRC); Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V; Hohe Str. 6 01069 Dresden Germany
| | - Julian Thiele
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics; Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V; Hohe Str. 6 01069 Dresden Germany
- Leibniz Research Cluster (LRC); Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V; Hohe Str. 6 01069 Dresden Germany
| | - Andreas Fery
- Institute of Physical Chemistry and Polymer Physics; Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V; Hohe Str. 6 01069 Dresden Germany
- Department of Physical Chemistry of Polymeric Materials; Technische Universität Dresden; Hohe Str. 6 01069 Dresden Germany
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Li M, Yang Q, Liu H, Qiu M, Lu TJ, Xu F. Capillary Origami Inspired Fabrication of Complex 3D Hydrogel Constructs. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2016; 12:4492-4500. [PMID: 27418038 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201601147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Revised: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogels have found broad applications in various engineering and biomedical fields, where the shape and size of hydrogels can profoundly influence their functions. Although numerous methods have been developed to tailor 3D hydrogel structures, it is still challenging to fabricate complex 3D hydrogel constructs. Inspired by the capillary origami phenomenon where surface tension of a droplet on an elastic membrane can induce spontaneous folding of the membrane into 3D structures along with droplet evaporation, a facile strategy is established for the fabrication of complex 3D hydrogel constructs with programmable shapes and sizes by crosslinking hydrogels during the folding process. A mathematical model is further proposed to predict the temporal structure evolution of the folded 3D hydrogel constructs. Using this model, precise control is achieved over the 3D shapes (e.g., pyramid, pentahedron, and cube) and sizes (ranging from hundreds of micrometers to millimeters) through tuning membrane shape, dimensionless parameter of the process (elastocapillary number Ce ), and evaporation time. This work would be favorable to multiple areas, such as flexible electronics, tissue regeneration, and drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moxiao Li
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Qingzhen Yang
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Hao Liu
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Mushu Qiu
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Tian Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Feng Xu
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
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Mahou R, Passemard S, Carvello M, Petrelli A, Noverraz F, Gerber-Lemaire S, Wandrey C. Contribution of polymeric materials to progress in xenotransplantation of microencapsulated cells: a review. Xenotransplantation 2016; 23:179-201. [PMID: 27250036 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cell microencapsulation and subsequent transplantation of the microencapsulated cells require multidisciplinary approaches. Physical, chemical, biological, engineering, and medical expertise has to be combined. Several natural and synthetic polymeric materials and different technologies have been reported for the preparation of hydrogels, which are suitable to protect cells by microencapsulation. However, owing to the frequent lack of adequate characterization of the hydrogels and their components as well as incomplete description of the technology, many results of in vitro and in vivo studies appear contradictory or cannot reliably be reproduced. This review addresses the state of the art in cell microencapsulation with special focus on microencapsulated cells intended for xenotransplantation cell therapies. The choice of materials, the design and fabrication of the microspheres, as well as the conditions to be met during the cell microencapsulation process, are summarized and discussed prior to presenting research results of in vitro and in vivo studies. Overall, this review will serve to sensitize medically educated specialists for materials and technological aspects of cell microencapsulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Redouan Mahou
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Solène Passemard
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michele Carvello
- Department of Surgery, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - François Noverraz
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandrine Gerber-Lemaire
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christine Wandrey
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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42
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Methods for Generating Hydrogel Particles for Protein Delivery. Ann Biomed Eng 2016; 44:1946-58. [PMID: 27160672 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-016-1637-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Proteins represent a major class of therapeutic molecules with vast potential for the treatment of acute and chronic diseases and regenerative medicine applications. Hydrogels have long been investigated for their potential in carrying and delivering proteins. As compared to bulk hydrogels, hydrogel microparticles (microgels) hold promise in improving aspects of delivery owing to their less traumatic route of entry into the body and improved versatility. This review discusses common methods of fabricating microgels, including emulsion polymerization, microfluidic techniques, and lithographic techniques. Microgels synthesized from both natural and synthetic polymers are discussed, as are a series of microgels fashioned from environment-responsive materials.
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High-throughput screening approaches and combinatorial development of biomaterials using microfluidics. Acta Biomater 2016; 34:1-20. [PMID: 26361719 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
From the first microfluidic devices used for analysis of single metabolic by-products to highly complex multicompartmental co-culture organ-on-chip platforms, efforts of many multidisciplinary teams around the world have been invested in overcoming the limitations of conventional research methods in the biomedical field. Close spatial and temporal control over fluids and physical parameters, integration of sensors for direct read-out as well as the possibility to increase throughput of screening through parallelization, multiplexing and automation are some of the advantages of microfluidic over conventional, 2D tissue culture in vitro systems. Moreover, small volumes and relatively small cell numbers used in experimental set-ups involving microfluidics, can potentially decrease research cost. On the other hand, these small volumes and numbers of cells also mean that many of the conventional molecular biology or biochemistry assays cannot be directly applied to experiments that are performed in microfluidic platforms. Development of different types of assays and evidence that such assays are indeed a suitable alternative to conventional ones is a step that needs to be taken in order to have microfluidics-based platforms fully adopted in biomedical research. In this review, rather than providing a comprehensive overview of the literature on microfluidics, we aim to discuss developments in the field of microfluidics that can aid advancement of biomedical research, with emphasis on the field of biomaterials. Three important topics will be discussed, being: screening, in particular high-throughput and combinatorial screening; mimicking of natural microenvironment ranging from 3D hydrogel-based cellular niches to organ-on-chip devices; and production of biomaterials with closely controlled properties. While important technical aspects of various platforms will be discussed, the focus is mainly on their applications, including the state-of-the-art, future perspectives and challenges. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Microfluidics, being a technology characterized by the engineered manipulation of fluids at the submillimeter scale, offers some interesting tools that can advance biomedical research and development. Screening platforms based on microfluidic technologies that allow high-throughput and combinatorial screening may lead to breakthrough discoveries not only in basic research but also relevant to clinical application. This is further strengthened by the fact that reliability of such screens may improve, since microfluidic systems allow close mimicking of physiological conditions. Finally, microfluidic systems are also very promising as micro factories of a new generation of natural or synthetic biomaterials and constructs, with finely controlled properties.
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Yanagawa F, Sugiura S, Kanamori T. Hydrogel microfabrication technology toward three dimensional tissue engineering. Regen Ther 2016; 3:45-57. [PMID: 31245472 PMCID: PMC6581842 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2016.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of biologically relevant three-dimensional (3D) tissue constructs is essential for the alternative methods of organ transplantation in regenerative medicine, as well as the development of improved drug discovery assays. Recent technological advances in hydrogel microfabrication, such as micromolding, 3D bioprinting, photolithography, and stereolithography, have led to the production of 3D tissue constructs that exhibit biological functions with precise 3D microstructures. Furthermore, microfluidics technology has enabled the development of the perfusion culture of 3D tissue constructs with vascular networks. In this review, we present these hydrogel microfabrication technologies for the in vitro reconstruction and cultivation of 3D tissues. Additionally, we discuss current challenges and future perspectives of 3D tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiki Yanagawa
- Drug Assay Device Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5th, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Shinji Sugiura
- Drug Assay Device Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5th, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Kanamori
- Drug Assay Device Research Group, Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 5th, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
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Lück S, Schubel R, Rüb J, Hahn D, Mathieu E, Zimmermann H, Scharnweber D, Werner C, Pautot S, Jordan R. Tailored and biodegradable poly(2-oxazoline) microbeads as 3D matrices for stem cell culture in regenerative therapies. Biomaterials 2015; 79:1-14. [PMID: 26686977 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.11.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We present the synthesis of hydrogel microbeads based on telechelic poly(2-oxazoline) (POx) crosslinkers and the methacrylate monomers (HEMA, METAC, SPMA) by inverse emulsion polymerization. While in batch experiments only irregular and ill-defined beads were obtained, the preparation in a microfluidic (MF) device resulted in highly defined hydrogel microbeads. Variation of the MF parameters allowed to control the microbead diameter from 50 to 500 μm. Microbead elasticity could be tuned from 2 to 20 kPa by the POx:monomer composition, the POx chain length, net charge of the hydrogel introduced via the monomer as well as by the organic content of the aqueous phase. The proliferations of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on the microbeads were studied. While neutral, hydrophilic POx-PHEMA beads were bioinert, excessive colonization of hMSCs on charged POx-PMETAC and POx-PSPMA was observed. The number of proliferated cells scaled roughly linear with the METAC or SPMA comonomer content. Additional collagen I coating further improved the stem cell proliferation. Finally, a first POx-based system for the preparation of biodegradable hydrogel microcarriers is described and evaluated for stem cell culturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Lück
- Professur für Makromolekulare Chemie, Department Chemie, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany; Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Fetcherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany; Dresden Initiative for Bioactive Interfaces & Materials, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - René Schubel
- Professur für Makromolekulare Chemie, Department Chemie, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jannick Rüb
- Professur für Makromolekulare Chemie, Department Chemie, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany; Dresden Initiative for Bioactive Interfaces & Materials, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dominik Hahn
- Dresden Initiative for Bioactive Interfaces & Materials, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany; Max-Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Budapester Str. 27, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Evelien Mathieu
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Fetcherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Heike Zimmermann
- Max-Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Budapester Str. 27, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dieter Scharnweber
- Max-Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Budapester Str. 27, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Carsten Werner
- Dresden Initiative for Bioactive Interfaces & Materials, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany; Max-Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden, Budapester Str. 27, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sophie Pautot
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Fetcherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Rainer Jordan
- Professur für Makromolekulare Chemie, Department Chemie, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany; Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Fetcherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany; Dresden Initiative for Bioactive Interfaces & Materials, Technische Universität Dresden, Mommsenstr. 4, 01069, Dresden, Germany.
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Morimoto Y, Hsiao AY, Takeuchi S. Point-, line-, and plane-shaped cellular constructs for 3D tissue assembly. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2015; 95:29-39. [PMID: 26387835 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Revised: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Microsized cellular constructs such as cellular aggregates and cell-laden hydrogel blocks are attractive cellular building blocks to reconstruct 3D macroscopic tissues with spatially ordered cells in bottom-up tissue engineering. In this regard, microfluidic techniques are remarkable methods to form microsized cellular constructs with high production rate and control of their shapes such as point, line, and plane. The fundamental shapes of the cellular constructs allow for the fabrication of larger arbitrary-shaped tissues by assembling them. This review introduces microfluidic formation methods of microsized cellular constructs and manipulation techniques to assemble them with control of their arrangements. Additionally, we show applications of the cellular constructs to biological studies and clinical treatments and discuss future trends as their potential applications.
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Allazetta S, Kolb L, Zerbib S, Bardy J, Lutolf MP. Cell-Instructive Microgels with Tailor-Made Physicochemical Properties. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2015; 11:5647-5656. [PMID: 26349486 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201501001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A microfluidic in vitro cell encapsulation platform to systematically test the effects of microenvironmental parameters on cell fate in 3D is developed. Multiple cell types including fibroblasts, embryonic stem cells, and cancer cells are incorporated in enzymatically cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol)-based microgels having defined and tunable mechanical and biochemical properties. Furthermore, different approaches to prevent cell "escape" from the microcapsules are explored and shown to substantially enhance the potential of this technology. Finally, coencapsulation of microgels within nondegradable gels allows cell viability, proliferation, and morphology to be studied in different microenvironmental conditions up to two weeks in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Allazetta
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laura Kolb
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Samantha Zerbib
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jo'an Bardy
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthias P Lutolf
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Science, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Shekaran A, Sim E, Tan KY, Chan JKY, Choolani M, Reuveny S, Oh S. Enhanced in vitro osteogenic differentiation of human fetal MSCs attached to 3D microcarriers versus harvested from 2D monolayers. BMC Biotechnol 2015; 15:102. [PMID: 26520400 PMCID: PMC4628389 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-015-0219-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of great interest in bone regenerative medicine due to their osteogenic potential and trophic effects. However, challenges to large-scale production of MSCs can hinder the translation of MSC therapies. 3D Microcarrier (MC)-based MSC culture presents a scalable and cost-effective alternative to conventional methods of expansion in 2D monolayers. Furthermore, biodegradable MCs may allow for MC-bound MSC delivery without enzymatic harvest for selected applications such as bone healing. However, the effects of cell expansion on microcarriers and enzymatic cell harvest on MSC phenotype and osteogenic differential potential are not well understood. In this study, we characterized human fetal MSCs (hfMSCs) after expansion in 3D microcarrier spinner or 2D monolayer cultures. Following expansion, we compared osteogenic differentiation of cultures seeded with 3D MC-harvested, 3D MC-bound and conventional 2D monolayer (MNL)-harvested cells when cultured in osteogenic induction media on collagen-coated plates. RESULTS Fetal MSCs expanded on both 3D agitated Microcarriers (MC) and 2D Plastic static monolayer (MNL) cultures express high levels of MSC surface markers. MC-harvested hfMSCs displayed higher expression of early osteogenic genes but slower mineralization kinetics compared to MNL-harvested MSCs during osteogenic induction. However, in the comparison between MC-bound and MC-harvested hfMSCs, osteogenic genes were upregulated and mineralization kinetics was accelerated in the former condition. Importantly, 3D MC-bound hfMSCs expressed higher levels of osteogenic genes and displayed either higher or equivalent levels of mineralization, depending on the cell line, compared to the classical monolayer cultures use in the literature (MNL-harvested hfMSCs). CONCLUSION Beyond the processing and scalability advantages of the microcarrier culture, hfMSCs attached to MCs undergo robust osteogenic differentiation and mineralization compared to enzymatically harvested cells. Thus biodegradable/biocompatible MCs which can potentially be used for cell expansion as well as a scaffold for direct in vivo delivery of cells may have advantages over the current methods of monolayer-expansion and delivery post-harvest for bone regeneration applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asha Shekaran
- Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 20 Biopolis Way, #06-01 Centros, Singapore, 138668, Singapore
| | - Eileen Sim
- Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 20 Biopolis Way, #06-01 Centros, Singapore, 138668, Singapore
| | - Kah Yong Tan
- Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 20 Biopolis Way, #06-01 Centros, Singapore, 138668, Singapore
| | - Jerry Kok Yen Chan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228, Singapore.,Cancer & Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore, 169857, Singapore.,Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, 229899, Singapore
| | - Mahesh Choolani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228, Singapore
| | - Shaul Reuveny
- Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 20 Biopolis Way, #06-01 Centros, Singapore, 138668, Singapore
| | - Steve Oh
- Stem Cell Group, Bioprocessing Technology Institute, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 20 Biopolis Way, #06-01 Centros, Singapore, 138668, Singapore.
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Collins DJ, Neild A, deMello A, Liu AQ, Ai Y. The Poisson distribution and beyond: methods for microfluidic droplet production and single cell encapsulation. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:3439-59. [PMID: 26226550 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00614g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 313] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
There is a recognized and growing need for rapid and efficient cell assays, where the size of microfluidic devices lend themselves to the manipulation of cellular populations down to the single cell level. An exceptional way to analyze cells independently is to encapsulate them within aqueous droplets surrounded by an immiscible fluid, so that reagents and reaction products are contained within a controlled microenvironment. Most cell encapsulation work has focused on the development and use of passive methods, where droplets are produced continuously at high rates by pumping fluids from external pressure-driven reservoirs through defined microfluidic geometries. With limited exceptions, the number of cells encapsulated per droplet in these systems is dictated by Poisson statistics, reducing the proportion of droplets that contain the desired number of cells and thus the effective rate at which single cells can be encapsulated. Nevertheless, a number of recently developed actively-controlled droplet production methods present an alternative route to the production of droplets at similar rates and with the potential to improve the efficiency of single-cell encapsulation. In this critical review, we examine both passive and active methods for droplet production and explore how these can be used to deterministically and non-deterministically encapsulate cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Collins
- Engineering Product Design pillar, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore.
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Hoehnel S, Lutolf MP. Capturing Cell-Cell Interactions via SNAP-tag and CLIP-tag Technology. Bioconjug Chem 2015; 26:1678-86. [PMID: 26079967 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.5b00268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Juxtacrine or contact-dependent signaling is a major form of cell communication in multicellular organisms. The involved cell-cell and cell-extracellular-matrix (ECM) interactions are crucial for the organization and maintenance of tissue architecture and function. However, because cell-cell contacts are relatively weak, it is difficult to isolate interacting cells in their native state to study, for example, how specific cell types interact with others (e.g., stem cells with niche cells) or where they locate within tissues to execute specific tasks. To achieve this, we propose artificial in situ cell-to-cell linking systems that are based on SNAP-tag and CLIP-tag, engineered mutants of the human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase. Here we demonstrate that SNAP-tag can be utilized to efficiently and covalently tether cells to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based hydrogel surfaces that have been functionalized with the SNAP-tag substrate benzylguanine (BG). Furthermore, using PEG-based spherical microgels as an artificial cell model, we provide proof-of-principle for inducing clustering that mimics cell-cell pairing.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hoehnel
- †Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering and §Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - M P Lutolf
- †Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering and §Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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