Issue 7, 2013

A novel core–shell microcapsule for encapsulation and 3D culture of embryonic stem cells

Abstract

In this study, we report the preparation of a novel microcapsule of ∼100 μm with a liquid (as compared to a solid-like alginate hydrogel) core and an alginate–chitosan–alginate (ACA) shell for encapsulation and culture of embryonic stem (ES) cells in the miniaturized 3D space of the liquid core. Murine R1 ES cells cultured in the microcapsules were found to survive (>90%) well and proliferate to form either a single aggregate of pluripotent cells or an embryoid body (EB) of more differentiated cells in each microcapsule within 7 days, depending on the culture medium used. This novel microcapsule technology allows massive production of the cell aggregates or EBs of uniform size and controllable pluripotency, which is important for the practical application of stem cell based therapy. Moreover, the semipermeable ACA shell was found to significantly reduce immunoglobulin G (IgG) binding to the encapsulated cells by up to 8.2 times, compared to non-encapsulated cardiac fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and ES cells. This reduction should minimize inflammatory and immune responses induced damage to the cells implanted in vivo because IgG binding is an important first step of the undesired host responses. Therefore, the ACA microcapsule with selective shell permeability should be of importance to advance the emerging cell-based medicine.

Graphical abstract: A novel core–shell microcapsule for encapsulation and 3D culture of embryonic stem cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
01 Sep 2012
Accepted
23 Nov 2012
First published
23 Nov 2012

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013,1, 1002-1009

A novel core–shell microcapsule for encapsulation and 3D culture of embryonic stem cells

W. Zhang, S. Zhao, W. Rao, J. Snyder, J. K. Choi, J. Wang, I. A. Khan, N. B. Saleh, P. J. Mohler, J. Yu, T. J. Hund, C. Tang and X. He, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2013, 1, 1002 DOI: 10.1039/C2TB00058J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements