Electrochemically Synthesized Polyacrylamide Gel and Core-Shell Nanoparticles for 3D Cell Culture Formation

Biocompatible polyacrylamide gel and core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a one-step electrochemically initiated gelation. Constant-potential electrochemical decomposing of ammonium persulfate initiated the copolymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide, methacrylic acid, and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide monomers. This decomposing potential and monomers' concentrations were optimized to prepare gel NPs and thin gel film-grafted core-shell NPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging confirmed the gel NP formation. The lyophilized gel NPs and core-shell NPs were applied to support the three-dimensional (3D) cell culture. In all, core-shell NPs provided superior support for complex 3D tissue structures.