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Cellular Encapsulation in 3D Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering

Cellular Encapsulation in 3D Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering

Published on: October 26, 2009

Enzyme-mediated redox initiation for hydrogel generation and cellular encapsulation.

Leah M Johnson¹, Benjamin D Fairbanks, Kristi S Anseth

¹Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ECCH 111 CB 424, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA.

Biomacromolecules

|October 14, 2009

Summary

This study introduces a rapid, water-soluble enzyme-mediated system for creating hydrogels. This new method enables efficient in situ cell encapsulation with high viability.

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Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Biotechnology

Background:

Hydrogel formation often requires specific conditions and initiators.
Enzyme-mediated polymerization offers a biocompatible alternative for in situ applications.
Controlling radical polymerization for biomaterial fabrication is crucial for cell encapsulation.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and characterize a rapid, water-soluble enzyme-mediated radical chain initiation system.
To evaluate the system's efficiency in polymerizing acrylate monomers for hydrogel formation.
To demonstrate the system's utility for in situ cell encapsulation with high cell viability.

Main Methods:

Utilized glucose oxidase and Fe(2+) for radical chain initiation.
Employed near-infrared spectroscopy to monitor polymerization rates.
Assessed cell viability post-encapsulation using NIH3T3 fibroblasts.

Main Results:

Achieved rapid hydrogel formation within minutes at room temperature and ambient oxygen.
Demonstrated that glucose concentration affects polymerization rates, with a plateau observed.
Observed a square root dependence on Fe(2+) concentration, with excess Fe(2+) reducing conversion.
Achieved 96% fibroblast viability in poly(ethylene glycol) tetra-acrylate hydrogel scaffolds.

Conclusions:

The enzyme-mediated redox radical initiation system enables rapid, controlled hydrogel polymerization in situ.
The system is effective for cell encapsulation, maintaining high cell viability.
This approach offers advantages such as low initiator concentration and minimal oxygen inhibition.