Pluronic F127 as a cell encapsulation material: utilization of membrane-stabilizing agents

Thermoreversible gelation of the copolymer Pluronic F127 (generic name, poloxamer 407) in water makes it a unique candidate for cell encapsulation applications, either alone or to promote cell seeding and attachment in tissue scaffolds. At concentrations of 15-20% (w/w), aqueous Pluronic F127 (F127) solutions gel at physiological temperatures. The effect of F127 on viability and proliferation of human liver carcinoma cells (HepG2) was determined for both liquid and gel formulations. Cell concentration and viability over a 5-day period were measured by the trypan blue assay via hemocytometry and results were confirmed in both the MTT and LDH assays. With 0.1-5% (w/w) F127 (liquid), cells proliferated and maintained high viability over 5 days. However, at 10% (w/w) F127 (liquid), there was a significant decrease in cell viability and no cell proliferation was evident. HepG2 cell encapsulation in F127 concentrations ranging from 15 to 20% (w/w) (gel) resulted in complete cell death by 5 days. This was also true for the HMEC-1 (endothelial) and L6 (muscle) cell lines evaluated. Cell-seeding density did not affect cell survival or proliferation. Membrane-stabilizing agents (hydrocortisone, glucose, and glycerol) were added to the F127 gel formulations to improve cell viability. The steroid hydrocortisone demonstrated the most significant improvement in viability, from <2% (in F127 alone) to >70% (with 60 nM hydrocortisone added). These results suggest that F127 formulations supplemented with membrane-stabilizing agents can serve as viable cell encapsulation materials. In addition, hydrocortisone may be generally useful in the promotion of cell viability for a wide range of encapsulation materials.