title: Photo-crosslinkable microcapsules formed by polyelectrolyte copolymer and modified collagen for rat hepatocyte encapsulation.
abstract: New anionic polyelectrolyte tetra-copolymers with photo-crosslinkable 4-(4-methoxycinnamoyl)phenyl methacrylate monomer in addition to a HEMA-MMA-MAA ter-copolymer system were synthesized. The tetra-copolymers were used to form photo-crosslinkable microcapsules with modified collagen by complex coacervation for rat hepatocytes encapsulation. The hepatocytes were encapsulated within a two-layered membrane comprising of modified collagen as the inner core and an outer photo-crosslinkable copolymer shell. Upon photo-crosslinking of the microcapsules with UV-Vis light irradiation, the mechanical strength and chemical stability of the microcapsules, and the cellular functions of the encapsulated hepatocytes were enhanced. Particularly, the mechanical stability of the microcapsules was dramatically strengthened. The new photo-crosslinkable tetra-copolymer formulation described in this article has opened a way to the development of hepatocyte microencapsulation technology for bioartifical liver assist device.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), 3 Research Link, Singapore 117602, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chai-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Quek
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Melinda Ling Hou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Hai-Quan
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Leong Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Kam W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Hanry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000528:radiation effects; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008863:Microspheres; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004573:Electrolytes; D008689:Methacrylates; D014508:Urea; D003094:Collagen