Spontaneous Formation of Uniform Cell-Sized Microgels through Water/Water Phase Separation |
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Authors: | Mayu Shono Gen Honda Miho Yanagisawa Kenichi Yoshikawa Akihisa Shioi |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Doshisha University, 6100321 Kyoto, Japan;2. Komaba Institute for Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8902 Japan;3. Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, 6100394 Kyoto, Japan |
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Abstract: | In this study, a one-step method is discussed for producing uniform cell-sized microgels using glass capillaries filled with a binary polymer blend of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and gelatin. Upon decreasing temperature, phase separation of the PEG/gelatin blends and gelation of gelatin occur, and then the polymer blend forms linearly aligned, uniformly sized gelatin microgels in the glass capillary. When DNA is added to the polymer solution, gelatin microgels entrapping DNA are spontaneously formed, and the DNA prevents the coalescence of the microdroplets even at temperatures above the melting point. This novel method to form uniform cell-sized microgels may be applicable to other biopolymers. This method is expected to contribute to diverse materials science via biopolymer microgels and biophysics and synthetic biology through cellular models containing biopolymer gels. |
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Keywords: | aqueous two-phase systems uniform cell-sized microgels water/water phase separation |
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