title: Cell-enclosing gelatin-based microcapsule production for tissue engineering using a microfluidic flow-focusing system.
abstract: Gelatin-based microcapsule production using a microfluidic system and the feasibility of the resultant microcapsules for constructing spherical tissues surrounded by heterogeneous cells were studied. The first cell-encapsulation and subsequent cell-enclosing microparticle encapsulation were achieved using a microfluidic flow-focusing droplet production system. A hollow-core structure of about 150 μm in diameter was developed by incubating the resultant microparticles at 37 °C, which induced thermal melting of the enclosed unmodified gelatin microparticles. Mammalian cells filled the hollow-cores after 4 days of incubation. A cell layer on the cell-enclosing microcapsules was developed by simply suspending the microcapsules in medium containing adherent fibroblast cells. This method may prove useful for the generation of gelatin microcapsules using a microfluidic system for formation of artificial tissue constructs.
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Sho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuyama
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taya
authors.forename: Koei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawakami