title: Monodisperse semi-permeable microcapsules for continuous observation of cells.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Wei-heong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D002214:Capsules; D005782:Gels; D005942:Gluconates; D007097:Imines; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C051546:alginate-polylysine-alginate; C067867:gluconohydroximo-1,5-lactone; D011107:Polylysine