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Constructing a Collagen Hydrogel for the Delivery of Stem Cell-loaded Chitosan Microspheres
Published on: June 1, 2012
Phase-separated chitosan-fibrin microbeads for cell delivery.
Zhewei Chen1, Limin Wang, Jan P Stegemann
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Composite microbeads combining chitosan and fibrin enhance cell delivery for tissue repair. Higher fibrin content in these cell-laden matrices significantly improved fibroblast viability and extracellular matrix interaction over time.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Matrix-enhanced delivery of cells is crucial for advancing cell therapies.
- Natural polymers like chitosan and fibrin offer unique properties for biomaterial development.
- Developing effective cell-laden delivery systems is key for successful tissue regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create novel cell-laden composite microbeads using chitosan and fibrin.
- To investigate the impact of varying chitosan/fibrin ratios on microbead properties and cell viability.
- To assess the potential of these composite microbeads for minimally invasive cell delivery in tissue repair.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of composite microbeads via emulsification of a chitosan-fibrinogen solution containing human fibroblasts in liquid polydimethylsiloxane.
- Initiation of fibrin polymerization using thrombin and chitosan gelation via thermal/pH changes.
- Evaluation of microbead size control using different impeller speeds (600–1400 rpm).
- Assessment of fibroblast viability, spreading, and extracellular matrix interaction at days 1 and 8 post-fabrication across different chitosan/fibrin weight ratios (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75).
Main Results:
- Microbead diameters varied from 275±99 µm to 38±10 µm, controllable by impeller speed.
- Human fibroblasts remained viable one day post-fabrication in all tested chitosan/fibrin matrices.
- Significantly higher fibroblast viability was observed in microbeads with higher fibrin content by day 8.
- Enhanced cell spreading and extracellular matrix interaction were noted in high-fibrin composite microbeads.
Conclusions:
- Composite microbeads effectively encapsulate viable human fibroblasts.
- Higher fibrin content in chitosan/fibrin microbeads promotes improved cell viability and function over time.
- These cell-laden composite microbeads show significant potential for minimally invasive cell delivery in diverse tissue repair applications.
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