Microfluidic Seeding of Cells on the Inner Surface of Alginate Hollow Microfibers

• Published in: Advanced healthcare materials Vol. 11; no. 11; pp. e2102701 - n/a
• Main Authors: Aykar, Saurabh S., Alimoradi, Nima, Taghavimehr, Mehrnoosh, Montazami, Reza, Hashemi, Nicole N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.06.2022
• Subjects: Alginates; Animals; biopolymers; Cell Adhesion; Cell Encapsulation; cell seeding; hollow microfibers; Hydrogels; Mice; microfluidics; Microfluidics - methods; microvascular tissues; cell seeding; hollow microfibers; biopolymers; microvascular tissues; microfluidics
• ISSN: 2192-2640; 2192-2659
• DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202102701

Mimicking microvascular tissue microenvironment in vitro calls for a cytocompatible technique of manufacturing biocompatible hollow microfibers suitable for cell‐encapsulation/seeding in and around them. The techniques reported to date either have a limit on the microfiber dimensions or undergo a complex manufacturing process. Here, a microfluidic‐based method for cell seeding inside alginate hollow microfibers is designed whereby mouse astrocytes (C8‐D1A) are passively seeded on the inner surface of these hollow microfibers. Collagen I and poly‐d‐lysine, as cell attachment additives, are tested to assess cell adhesion and viability; the results are compared with nonadditive‐based hollow microfibers (BARE). The BARE furnishes better cell attachment and higher cell viability immediately after manufacturing, and an increasing trend in the cell viability is observed between Day 0 and Day 2. Swelling analysis using percentage initial weight and width is performed on BARE microfibers furnishing a maximum of 124.1% and 106.1%, respectively. Degradation analysis using weight observed a 62% loss after 3 days, with 46% occurring in the first 12 h. In the frequency sweep test performed, the storage modulus (G′) remains comparatively higher than the loss modulus (G″) in the frequency range 0–20 Hz, indicating high elastic behavior of the hollow microfibers. A microfluidic‐based approach to cell seeding/encapsulation on the inner surface of alginate‐based hollow microfibers during manufacturing is elucidated. A range of hollow microfiber dimensions with optimal cell‐seeding viability along with high elastic property is obtained. This versatile approach enables to mimic any microvascular tissue microenvironment in vitro.