title: Fabricating polyacrylamide microbeads by inverse emulsification to mimic the size and elasticity of living cells.
abstract: Inverse emulsification was used to fabricate polyacrylamide (PAAm) microbeads with size and elastic properties similar to typical, mammalian cells. These biomimicking microbeads could be fluorescently stained and functionalized with a collagen type-I coating, post-polymerization, for tracking bead locations and promoting cell recognition/binding, respectively. By occupying a previously unfilled range of sizes and mechanical properties, these microbeads may find unique use in both biomedical and materials applications.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Labriola
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mathiowitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA and School of Engineering and Department of Orthopaedics, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA. Eric_Darling@brown.edu.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3932-8623
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Darling
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D002477:Cells / Q000166:cytology; D004548:Elasticity; D004655:Emulsions; D008863:Microspheres; D010316:Particle Size; D000099166:Polyacrylamides
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D004655:Emulsions; D000099166:Polyacrylamides