Emulsion strategies in the microencapsulation of cells: pathways to thin coherent membranes.
Microencapsulation of cell spheroids in an immunoselective, highly biocompatible, biomembrane offers a way to create viable implantation options in the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Traditionally the encapsulation process has been achieved through the injection/extrusion of alginate/cell mixtures into a calcium chloride solution to produce calcium alginate capsules around the cells. A novel alternative is explored here through a procedure using an emulsion process to produce thin adherent calcium alginate membranes around cell spheroids. In this study, a thorough investigation has been used to establish the emulsion process parameters that are critical to the formation of a coherent alginate coat both on a model spheroid system and subsequently on cell spheroids. Optical and fluorescence microscopy are used to assess the morphology and coherence of the calcium alginate/poly-L-ornithine/alginate (APA) capsules produced.
Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
A
A
Leung
Y
Y
Ramaswamy
P
P
Munro
G
G
Lawrie
L
L
Nielsen
M
M
Trau
D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D002214:Capsules; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004655:Emulsions; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D008566:Membranes / Q000737:chemistry; D008853:Microscopy; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D011107:Polylysine / Q000737:chemistry
D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002214:Capsules; D004655:Emulsions; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D010455:Peptides; C030055:poly-delta-L-ornithine; C008973:polyornithine; D011107:Polylysine; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002122:Calcium Chloride; D002118:Calcium