Effervescent Atomizer as Novel Cell Spray Technology to Decrease the Gas-to-Liquid Ratio

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Therapy
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Cell spraying is a key technique in cell therapy and tissue engineering.
• Traditional twin-fluid atomizers require high gas velocities, potentially harming cells.
• Reducing air requirements is crucial for optimizing cell aerosolization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a custom effervescent atomizer for cell spraying.
• To assess the impact of effervescent aerosolization on human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells.
• To determine the suitability of this new method for cell-based applications.

Main Methods:

• Development of a custom effervescent atomizer based on the effervescent principle.
• Evaluation of spray characteristics, including droplet size (15.4–33.5 µm).
• Assessment of cell viability, metabolic activity, apoptosis, necrosis, and tri-lineage differentiation post-aerosolization.

Main Results:

• The effervescent atomizer produced droplets in the 15.4–33.5 µm range.
• Cell survival exceeded 90% at low gas-to-liquid ratios, decreasing to ~50% at higher ratios.
• No significant impact on metabolic activity or tri-lineage differentiation was observed; necrosis increased with higher ratios.

Conclusions:

• Effervescent aerosolization is suitable for cell applications, requiring less air than traditional methods.
• This study demonstrates the first use of an effervescent atomizer for cell processing.
• The method shows promise for preserving cell function and viability in therapeutic applications.