title: Hydrogel-based three-dimensional cell culture for organ-on-a-chip applications.
abstract: Recent studies have reported that three-dimensionally cultured cells have more physiologically relevant functions than two-dimensionally cultured cells. Cells are three-dimensionally surrounded by the extracellular matrix (ECM) in complex in vivo microenvironments and interact with the ECM and neighboring cells. Therefore, replicating the ECM environment is key to the successful cell culture models. Various natural and synthetic hydrogels have been used to mimic ECM environments based on their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and biochemical functional groups. Because of these characteristics, hydrogels have been combined with microtechnologies and used in organ-on-a-chip applications to more closely recapitulate the in vivo microenvironment. Therefore, appropriate hydrogels should be selected depending on the cell types and applications. The porosity of the selected hydrogel should be controlled to facilitate the movement of nutrients and oxygen. In this review, we describe various types of hydrogels, external stimulation-based gelation of hydrogels, and control of their porosity. Then, we introduce applications of hydrogels for organ-on-a-chip. Last, we also discuss the challenges of hydrogel-based three-dimensional cell culture techniques and propose future directions. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:580-589, 2017.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 121-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 121-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bumsang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 121-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D055616:Microtechnology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: 3D cell culture; hydrogel; in vitro systems; organ-on-a-chip