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One-Step Synthesis of Cytocompatible Brushite-Mineralized Gellan Gum/Alginate Microgels via a Temperature-Controlled
Stanisław Marecik1, Anna Kusibab1, Krzysztof Pietryga2
1AGH University of Krakow, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, Department of Biomaterials and Composites, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, Kraków 30-059, Poland.
ACS Omega
|July 10, 2026
Summary
A new temperature-controlled method creates uniform, injectable microgels for bone regeneration. These brushite-mineralized gellan gum/sodium alginate microgels enhance cell adhesion and structural stability, overcoming fabrication challenges.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Injectable bioactive microgels are crucial for minimally invasive bone regeneration.
- Fabricating stable composite microgels with high polymer concentrations and mineral phases is challenging due to high viscosity, leading to inconsistent particle formation and system clogging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel temperature-controlled emulsification method for producing uniform, mineralized microgels from high-viscosity gellan gum/sodium alginate (GG/SA) solutions.
- To characterize the structural, mineral content, and bioactivity of these microgels for bone regeneration applications.
Main Methods:
- A temperature-controlled emulsification setup was utilized to process high-viscosity GG/SA solutions.
- Microgels were mineralized with a brushite phase and characterized using SEM/EDS, FTIR, XRD, and TG analyses.
- In vitro cytocompatibility and cell culture assays with MG63 osteoblast-like cells were performed under dynamic conditions.
Main Results:
- Uniform spherical microgels with controllable mineral content (up to 30%) and mean diameters below 100 μm were successfully produced.
- Nanocrystalline brushite phase incorporation was confirmed, providing significant structural stability to the microgels.
- Mineralized microgels demonstrated cytocompatibility and supported MG63 cell adhesion and spreading, unlike non-mineralized controls.
Conclusions:
- Precise temperature control is an effective strategy for fabricating uniform microgels from high-viscosity GG/SA solutions.
- The developed brushite-mineralized GG/SA microgels offer combined structural and bioactive benefits for bone tissue engineering.
- This temperature-controlled platform is versatile and applicable to other high-viscosity, thermoresponsive biopolymers for advanced microgel production.
