Human Cell Encapsulation in Gel Microbeads with Cosynthesized Concentric Nanoporous Solid Shells |
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Authors: | Xiamo Chianty Zhou Tommy Haraldsson Salvatore Nania Federico Ribet Giorgia Palano Rainer Heuchel Matthias Löhr Wouter van der Wijngaart |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Micro and Nanosystems, School of Electrical Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden;2. Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden |
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Abstract: | Encapsulation of therapeutic cells in core–shell microparticles has great promise for the treatment of a range of health conditions. Unresolved challenges related to control of the particle morphology, mechanical stability, and immunogenicity hinder dissemination of this promising approach. Here, a novel polymer material for cell encapsulation and a combined novel, easy to control, synthesis method are introduced. Core–shell cell encapsulation is demonstrated with a concentric core–shell morphology formed during a single UV exposure, resulting in particles that consist of a synthetic hydrogel core of polyethylene glycol diacrylate and a solid, but porous, shell of off‐stoichiometric thiol‐ene. The encapsulated human cells in 100 µm diameter particles have >90% viability. The average shell thickness is controlled between 7 and 13 µm by varying the UV exposure, and the shell is measured to be permeable to low molecular weight species (<180 Da) but impermeable to higher molecular weight species (>480 Da). The unique material properties and the orthogonal control of the microparticle core size, shell thickness, shell permeability, and shell surface properties address the key unresolved challenges in the field, and are expected to enable faster translation of novel cell therapy concepts from research to clinical practice. |
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Keywords: | cell encapsulation cell therapy droplet microfluidics off‐stoichiometry thiol‐ene polymers OSTE PEGDA poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate |
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