Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2026
Preparation of Cross-Linked Sodium Alginate Microspheres with Different Metal Ions Using the Microfluidic Electrospray Technology
Published on: June 7, 2024
Morphology controlled sodium hyaluronate microspheres via microfluidics for promising transcatheter arterial
Baoqu Zhang1, Rui Tang2, Yanwu Peng1
1Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-based Fiber Materials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China; Zhejiang-Mauritius Joint Research Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silk and Silk Protein New Materials, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
Abstract:
Controlling the shape of biopolymer-derived microspheres with potential biodegradability is important for medical applications such as drug delivery, embolization therapy, and tissue engineering; however, establishing clear links between structure and function remains challenging. In this study, we present a microfluidic method for producing sodium hyaluronate microspheres (SH MSs) with adjustable shapes (spherical and bowl-shaped) by precisely regulating the flow rate and polymer concentration. Our parametric analysis indicates that droplet solidification dynamics, influenced by flow rates and polymer concentration, dictate the final morphology. The bowl-shaped microspheres demonstrated higher mechanical stability in single-particle compression tests (Young's modulus = 395 ± 56 kPa, compared with 145 ± 10 kPa for spherical microspheres). Consistent results were observed in rheological measurements. After 72 h of in vitro culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), cell viability remained above 90%, indicating no significant cytotoxicity. Their tunable flexibility facilitated complete vascular occlusion in a microfluidic model. In a rabbit VX2 orthotopic liver tumor model, successful embolization and tumor necrosis were achieved. These findings position SH microspheres as promising candidates for embolization therapy; however, further comparative studies with commercial embolic agents and long-term safety assessments are warranted.
