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Interface‐Directed Self‐Assembly of Cell‐Laden Microgels
Author(s) -
Zamanian Behnam,
Masaeli Mahdokht,
Nichol Jason W.,
Khabiry Masoud,
Hancock Matthew J.,
Bae Hojae,
Khademhosseini Ali
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.200902326
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , materials science , nanotechnology , micrometer , self assembly , interface (matter) , cell encapsulation , microfluidics , wetting , composite material , polymer chemistry , mechanical engineering , sessile drop technique , engineering
Abstract Cell‐laden hydrogels show great promise for creating engineered tissues. However, a major shortcoming with these systems has been the inability to fabricate structures with controlled micrometer‐scale features on a biologically relevant length scale. In this Full Paper, a rapid method is demonstrated for creating centimeter‐scale, cell‐laden hydrogels through the assembly of shape‐controlled microgels or a liquid–air interface. Cell‐laden microgels of specific shapes are randomly placed on the surface of a high‐density, hydrophobic solution, induced to aggregate and then crosslinked into macroscale tissue‐like structures. The resulting assemblies are cell‐laden hydrogel sheets consisting of tightly packed, ordered microgel units. In addition, a hierarchical approach creates complex multigel building blocks, which are then assembled into tissues with precise spatial control over the cell distribution. The results demonstrate that forces at an air–liquid interface can be used to self‐assemble spatially controllable, cocultured tissue‐like structures.