Monodisperse semi-permeable microcapsules for continuous observation of cells.
We present a method for forming monodisperse semi-permeable microcapsules composed of an alginate-poly-L-lysine (PLL) membrane for the observation of encapsulated cells. These microcapsules were prepared with a monolithic three-dimensional microfluidic axisymmetric flow-focusing device by an internal gelation method using glucono-1,5-lactone in order to provide mild conditions for the cells. The microcapsules were sufficiently monodisperse and robust to be trapped in a bead-based microfluidic array system for easy observation. We also confirmed that (i) the alginate-PLL membrane is semi-permeable so that cells and microorganisms cannot pass through it but nutrients and wastes can, (ii) cells are able to move freely inside the semi-permeable microcapsules, and (iii) cells can be successfully proliferated in the microcapsules.
Morimoto
Yuya
Y
Center for International Research on Micromechatronics (CIRMM), Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan.
Tan
Wei-heong
WH
Tsuda
Yukiko
Y
Takeuchi
Shoji
S
D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002214:Capsules; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000166:cytology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005782:Gels; D005942:Gluconates / Q000737:chemistry; D007097:Imines / Q000737:chemistry; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010539:Permeability; D011107:Polylysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry
D000464:Alginates; D002214:Capsules; D005782:Gels; D005942:Gluconates; D007097:Imines; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C051546:alginate-polylysine-alginate; C067867:gluconohydroximo-1,5-lactone; D011107:Polylysine