A microfluidic approach to encapsulate living cells in uniform alginate hydrogel microparticles.
A microfluidic technique is described to encapsulate living cells in alginate hydrogel microparticles generated from monodisperse double-emulsion templates. A microcapillary device is used to fabricate double emulsion templates composed of an alginate drop surrounded by a mineral oil shell. Hydrogel formation begins when the alginate drop separates from the mineral oil shell and comes into contact with Ca(2+) ions in the continuous phase. Alginate hydrogel microparticles with diameters ranging from 60 to 230 µm are obtained. 65% of the cells encapsulated in the alginate microparticles were viable after one week. The technique provides a useful means to encapsulate the living cells in monodisperse hydrogel microparticles.
School of Materials Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2045, USA. cjmartinez@purdue.edu
Carlos J
CJ
Martinez
Jin Woong
JW
Kim
Congwang
C
Ye
Idelise
I
Ortiz
Amy C
AC
Rowat
Manuel
M
Marquez
David
D
Weitz
D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018914:Cells, Immobilized; D004655:Emulsions; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D020100:Hydrogels; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D044085:Microfluidics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008899:Mineral Oil / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010316:Particle Size; D012235:Rhodamines; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D014741:Video Recording
D000464:Alginates; D004655:Emulsions; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; D012235:Rhodamines; D008899:Mineral Oil; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002118:Calcium