title: Interfacial Bioorthogonal Cross-Linking.
abstract: Described herein is interfacial bioorthogonal cross-linking, the use of bioorthogonal chemistry to create and pattern biomaterials through diffusion-controlled gelation at the liquid-gel interface. The basis is a rapid (k2284000 M-1s-1) reaction between strainedtrans-cyclooctene (TCO) and tetrazine (Tz) derivatives. Syringe delivery of Tz-functionalized hyaluronic acid (HA-Tz) to a bath of bis-TCO cross-linker instantly creates microspheres with a cross-linked shell through which bis-TCO diffuses freely to introduce further cross-linking at the interface. Tags can be introduced with 3D resolution without external triggers or templates. Water-filled hydrogel channels were prepared by simply reversing the order of addition. Prostate cancer cells encapsulated in the microspheres have 99% viability, proliferate readily, and form aggregated clusters. This process is projected to be useful in the fabrication of cell-instructive matrices for in vitro tissue models.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware , Newark, Delaware 19716, United States.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware , Newark, Delaware 19716, United States.
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Dicker
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware , Newark, Delaware 19716, United States.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware , Newark, Delaware 19716, United States.
authors.forename: Xinqiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware , Newark, Delaware 19716, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fox