Silk sericin-alginate-chitosan microcapsules: hepatocytes encapsulation for enhanced cellular functions

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Encapsulation technology enables sustained therapeutic product delivery without immunosuppressants.
• Developing biocompatible microcapsules is crucial for cell-based therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and characterize novel sericin-alginate-chitosan microcapsules for live cell encapsulation.
• To evaluate the viability and functionality of encapsulated cells for therapeutic potential.

Main Methods:

• Microcapsules were fabricated using sericin-alginate beads coated with chitosan and crosslinked with genipin.
• Cell viability was assessed using Alamar blue assay and confocal microscopy.
• Functional analysis included measuring glucose consumption, urea secretion, and albumin content.

Main Results:

• The developed microcapsules exhibited spherical morphology and a smooth surface.
• High cell viability and uniform cell distribution were observed within the microcapsules.
• Encapsulated cells showed enhanced metabolic activity, including increased glucose consumption and urea secretion.

Conclusions:

• The sericin-alginate-chitosan microcapsules provide a favorable microenvironment for encapsulated cells.
• This technology offers a promising model for cell encapsulation in future therapeutics, particularly for hepatocyte transplantation.