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Combining submerged electrospray and UV photopolymerization for production of synthetic hydrogel microspheres for cell encapsulation
Author(s) -
Young Cara J.,
PooleWarren Laura A.,
Martens Penny J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.24430
Subject(s) - photopolymer , cell encapsulation , self healing hydrogels , materials science , microsphere , chemical engineering , electrospray , drug delivery , vinyl alcohol , polyvinyl alcohol , nanotechnology , chemistry , composite material , polymer chemistry , polymerization , chromatography , polymer , mass spectrometry , engineering
Microencapsulation within hydrogel microspheres holds much promise for drug and cell delivery applications. Synthetic hydrogels have many advantages over more commonly used natural materials such as alginate, however their use has been limited due to a lack of appropriate methods for manufacturing these microspheres under conditions compatible with sensitive proteins or cells. This study investigated the effect of flow rate and voltage on size and uniformity of the hydrogel microspheres produced via submerged electrospray combined with UV photopolymerization. In addition, the mechanical properties and cell survival within microspheres was studied. A poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) macromer solution was sprayed in sunflower oil under flow rates between 1–100 µL/min and voltages 0–10 kV. The modes of spraying observed were similar to those previously reported for electrospraying in air. Spheres produced were smaller for lower flow rates and higher voltages and mean size could be tailored from 50 to 1,500 µm. The microspheres exhibited a smooth, spherical morphology, did not aggregate and the compressive modulus of the spheres (350 kPa) was equivalent to bulk PVA (312 kPa). Finally, L929 fibroblasts were encapsulated within PVA microspheres and showed viability >90% after 24 h. This process shows great promise for the production of synthetic hydrogel microspheres, and specifically supports encapsulation of cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:1561–1570. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.