An Optimized Calcium Alginate Microcapsule for Mesenchymal Stem Cells Encapsulation

Background: Recent studies suggest that the three dimensional (۳D) cellular environment plays major roles in cell function. Hydrogel cell encapsulation is a method to provide a ۳D culture system which controls cell fate and can be used as a drug delivery tool for continuous delivery of therapeutic products.Methods and Materials: In order to provide an optimized three dimensional cellular environment for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) encapsulation, various concentrations of alginate hydrogel (۰.۸, ۱.۲% and ۱.۶% w/v) and calcium ions (۱۰۲ and ۱۵۳ mM) were used. MSC viability was assessed through trypan blue staining, sub-G۱ analysis, and fluorescent microscopy. Structural porosity and mechanical properties of hydrogel capsules were examined.Results: Encapsulated MSCs within ۱.۲% concentration (w/v) of alginate showed the highest level (۸۴.۸% ± ۱.۷۷) of MSC viability. Samples with ۱.۲% w/v alginate in ۱۰۲ and ۱۵۳mM concentrations of calcium chloride bath as well as ۱.۶% alginate in ۱۰۲ mM CaCl۲ yielded integrated cross link networks and interconnected porous structure which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy.Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate that the sample with ۱.۲% alginate in ۱۵۳mM CaCl۲ is a suitable candidate for using in MSC encapsulation.Background: Recent studies suggest that the three dimensional (۳D) cellular environment plays major roles in cell function. Hydrogel cell encapsulation is a method to provide a ۳D culture system which controls cell fate and can be used as a drug delivery tool for continuous delivery of therapeutic products. Methods and Materials: In order to provide an optimized three dimensional cellular environment for mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) encapsulation, various concentrations of alginate hydrogel (۰.۸, ۱.۲% and ۱.۶% w/v) and calcium ions (۱۰۲ and ۱۵۳ mM) were used. MSC viability was assessed through trypan blue staining, sub-G۱ analysis, and fluorescent microscopy. Structural porosity and mechanical properties of hydrogel capsules were examined. Results: Encapsulated MSCs within ۱.۲% concentration (w/v) of alginate showed the highest level (۸۴.۸% ± ۱.۷۷) of MSC viability. Samples with ۱.۲% w/v alginate in ۱۰۲ and ۱۵۳mM concentrations of calcium chloride bath as well as ۱.۶% alginate in ۱۰۲ mM CaCl۲ yielded integrated cross link networks and interconnected porous structure which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate that the sample with ۱.۲% alginate in ۱۵۳mM CaCl۲ is a suitable candidate for using in MSC encapsulation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cell encapsulation ، Hydrogel ، Alginate ، Mesenchymal stem cell