Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering Commons^™

Microfabrication Of Homogenous, Asymmetric Cell-Laden Hydrogel Capsules, Qiaobing Xu, Tram T. Dang, Kaitlin M. Bratlie, Ivy Chen, Robert Langer, Daniel G. Anderson

Kaitlin M. Bratlie

Cell encapsulation has been broadly investigated as a technology to provide immunoprotection for transplanted endocrine cells. Here we develop a new fabrication method that allows for rapid, homogenous microencapsulation of insulin-secreting cells with varying microscale geometries and asymmetrically modified surfaces. Micromolding systems were developed using polypropylene mesh, and the material/surface properties associated with efficient encapsulation were identified. Cells encapsulated using these methods maintain desirable viability and preserve their ability to proliferate and secrete insulin in a glucose-responsive manner. This new cell encapsulation approach enables a practical route to an inexpensive and convenient process for the generation of cell-laden microcapsules without …