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Generation of Alginate Microspheres for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 12, 2012
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Development of a cell delivery system using alginate microbeads for tissue regeneration
Shirae K Leslie1, Anthony M Nicolini, Gobalakrishnan Sundaresan
1School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, 601 West Main Street, Richmond, VA, USA. bboyan@vcu.edu.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|April 9, 2020
Summary
Alginate microbeads effectively deliver adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) for tissue regeneration. Optimizing cell and microbead density influences growth factor release and cell delivery, with fewer microbeads potentially sufficient for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Stem Cell Therapy
Background:
- Alginate microbeads encapsulate adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) for tissue regeneration.
- Organic osmolytes are used to maintain physiological osmolality during microbead formation.
- The impact of osmolytes and delivery parameters on encapsulated ASCs is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate osmolyte effects on microbead characteristics and cell function.
- To determine how cell and microbead density influence cell viability, growth factor production, and degradation.
- To assess the in vivo cell localization ability of degradable and non-degradable alginate microbeads and their inflammatory potential.
Main Methods:
- Microbead formation using various osmolytes (e.g., glucose).
- Assessment of microbead diameter, cell viability, and growth factor production.
- In vivo studies evaluating cell localization and inflammatory response to microbeads.
Main Results:
- Glucose resulted in the smallest microbead diameter; osmolyte type did not affect cell viability or growth factor production.
- Increased cell or microbead density reduced growth factor production per cell but maintained viability.
- Both degradable and non-degradable microbeads successfully localized cells in vivo; degradable beads showed mild chronic inflammation upon re-exposure.
Conclusions:
- Osmolyte choice impacts microbead size but not encapsulated ASC function.
- Cell and microbead density are critical parameters influencing therapeutic outcomes.
- Alginate microbeads are effective for cell delivery and localization, though inflammatory potential requires further investigation for repeated applications.
