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Microfluidic Generation of Monodisperse, Structurally Homogeneous Alginate Microgels for Cell Encapsulation and 3D Cell Culture
Author(s) -
Utech Stefanie,
Prodanovic Radivoje,
Mao Angelo S.,
Ostafe Raluca,
Mooney David J.,
Weitz David A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced healthcare materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.288
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 2192-2659
pISSN - 2192-2640
DOI - 10.1002/adhm.201500021
Subject(s) - dispersity , microfluidics , homogeneous , calcium alginate , ionic bonding , chemical engineering , materials science , cell encapsulation , nanotechnology , mesenchymal stem cell , chemistry , biophysics , calcium , polymer chemistry , ion , self healing hydrogels , organic chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , biology , engineering , thermodynamics
Monodisperse alginate microgels (10–50 μm) are created via droplet‐based microfluidics by a novel crosslinking procedure. Ionic crosslinking of alginate is induced by release of chelated calcium ions. The process separates droplet formation and gelation reaction enabling excellent control over size and homogeneity under mild reaction conditions. Living mesenchymal stem cells are encapsulated and cultured in the generated 3D microenvironments.