Spontaneously and reversibly forming phospholipid polymer hydrogels as a matrix for cell engineering

Bioengineering with utilization of cells as one of the components of devices has been expected to advance developments of medical and pharmaceutical technologies. When cells are engineered, it is important to establish means for maintaining the activity of the cells, enhancing cell functions, and controlling cell responses. This review summarizes researches for cell encapsulation using synthetic phospholipid polymers composed of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine unit, which make hydrogel spontaneously in a cell culture environment and then cells are preserved in situ. The phospholipid polymer hydrogels show no adverse effects on the cell culture process and the mechanical properties of the hydrogels can regulate for controlling the function of cells. It also introduces molecular designs that can be easily recovered from the hydrogel matrix after the encapsulated cells have differentiated. Furthermore, the application of these hydrogels to a microdevice also describes advanced utilization of cultured cells. Phospholipid polymer hydrogels can exhibit its function even when they are applied in vivo, and as one application, introduces the prevention of adhesion with other tissues in the tissue healing process. That is, the potential application of the phospholipid polymer hydrogels in cell engineering are described.