Stop-flow lithography to generate cell-laden microgel particles.
Encapsulating cells within hydrogels is important for generating three-dimensional (3D) tissue constructs for drug delivery and tissue engineering. This paper describes, for the first time, the fabrication of large numbers of cell-laden microgel particles using a continuous microfluidic process called stop-flow lithography (SFL). Prepolymer solution containing cells was flowed through a microfluidic device and arrays of individual particles were repeatedly defined using pulses of UV light through a transparency mask. Unlike photolithography, SFL can be used to synthesize microgel particles continuously while maintaining control over particle size, shape and anisotropy. Therefore, SFL may become a useful tool for generating cell-laden microgels for various biomedical applications.
Panda
Priyadarshi
P
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Ali
Shamsher
S
Lo
Edward
E
Chung
Bong Geun
BG
Hatton
T Alan
TA
Khademhosseini
Ali
A
Doyle
Patrick S
PS
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002477:Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D020100:Hydrogels; C437167:poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols