Fabrication of cell-containing gel modules to assemble modular tissue-engineered constructs [corrected].
This paper describes a protocol to encapsulate cells in sub-millimeter-sized cylindrical collagen modules and to assemble these modules into a tissue-engineered construct within a continuous loop flow circuit. Modules are fabricated by gelling a solution of collagen, that contains suspended cells, within the lumen of a small-bore polyethylene tube. The tubing is then cut into short lengths using an automated cutter and gently vortexed to remove the cell-containing collagen modules from the tubing lumen. Modules are then randomly assembled into a modular construct by pipetting a suspension of modules into a larger tube that is positioned within a continuous flow circuit. A range of cylinder aspect ratios are achievable; therefore, this method could potentially be used to create short discs or, alternatively, long threads of soft gels, with or without encapsulated cells, for a variety of tissue-engineering applications. Module fabrication requires 1 d and assembly of a modular construct requires 2 h.
McGuigan
Alison P
AP
Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G9. alison.mcguigan@utoronto.ca
Leung
Brendan
B
Sefton
Michael V
MV
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D005782:Gels; D003094:Collagen