Development of mammalian cell-enclosing calcium-alginate hydrogel fibers in a co-flowing stream.
A jetting technique in a liquid-liquid co-flowing stream was applied to the preparation of mammalian cell-enclosing calcium-alginate (Ca-alg) hydrogel fibers of several hundred micrometers in cross-sectional diameter. One percent alginate aqueous solution was extruded from needles (270, 480, 940 microm inner diameter) into a co-flowing laminar stream of 100 mM aqueous calcium chloride solution. The extruded alginate solution was stretched by the CaCl(2) solution, which is known as a "jetting process", and the Ca-alg hydrogel fibers were formed by gelation of the alginate solution through the uptake of calcium ions in the CaCl(2) solution. The cross-sectional diameter of the hydrogel fibers could be controlled from approximately 100-800 microm by changing the velocities of the alginate and CaCl(2) solution, and the inner diameter of the needle. Approximately 95% of bovine carotid artery vascular endothelial cells remained alive after the process of preparing hydrogel fibers in a co-flowing stream, demonstrating that the cell-enclosing process scarcely influences the viability of the enclosed cells.
Takei
Takayuki
T
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. ttakei@chem-eng.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Sakai
Shinji
S
Ijima
Hiroyuki
H
Kawakami
Koei
K
D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002470:Cell Survival; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D020100:Hydrogels; D007477:Ions; D008422:Materials Testing
D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D007477:Ions; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002118:Calcium