18 research outputs found
Microfluidic-Based Cell-Embedded Microgels Using Nonfluorinated Oil as a Model for the Gastrointestinal Niche
Microfluidic-based
cell encapsulation has promising potential in therapeutic applications.
It also provides a unique approach for studying cellular dynamics
and interactions, though this concept has not yet been fully explored.
No in vitro model currently exists that allows us to study the interaction
between crypt cells and Peyer’s patch immune cells because
of the difficulty in recreating, with sufficient control, the two
different microenvironments in the intestine in which these cell types
belong. However, we demonstrate that a microfluidic technique is able
to provide such precise control and that these cells can proliferate
inside microgels. Current microfluidic-based cell microencapsulation
techniques primarily use fluorinated oils. Herein, we study the feasibility
and biocompatibility of different nonfluorinated oils for application
in gastrointestinal cell encapsulation and further introduce a model
for studying intercellular chemical interactions with this approach.
Our results demonstrate that cell viability is more affected by the
solidification and purification processes that occur after droplet
formation rather than the oil type used for the carrier phase. Specifically,
a shorter polymer cross-linking time and consequently lower cell exposure
to the harsh environment (e.g., acidic pH) results in a high cell
viability of over 90% within the protected microgels. Using nonfluorinated
oils, we propose a model system demonstrating the interplay between
crypt and Peyer’s patch cells using this microfluidic approach
to separately encapsulate the cells inside distinct alginate/gelatin
microgels, which allow for intercellular chemical communication. We
observed that the coculture of crypt cells alongside Peyer’s
patch immune cells improves the growth of healthy organoids inside
these microgels, which contain both differentiated and undifferentiated
cells over 21 days of coculture. These results indicate the possibility
of using droplet-based microfluidics for culturing organoids to expand
their applicability in clinical research
Microfluidic-Based Cell-Embedded Microgels Using Nonfluorinated Oil as a Model for the Gastrointestinal Niche
Microfluidic-based
cell encapsulation has promising potential in therapeutic applications.
It also provides a unique approach for studying cellular dynamics
and interactions, though this concept has not yet been fully explored.
No in vitro model currently exists that allows us to study the interaction
between crypt cells and Peyer’s patch immune cells because
of the difficulty in recreating, with sufficient control, the two
different microenvironments in the intestine in which these cell types
belong. However, we demonstrate that a microfluidic technique is able
to provide such precise control and that these cells can proliferate
inside microgels. Current microfluidic-based cell microencapsulation
techniques primarily use fluorinated oils. Herein, we study the feasibility
and biocompatibility of different nonfluorinated oils for application
in gastrointestinal cell encapsulation and further introduce a model
for studying intercellular chemical interactions with this approach.
Our results demonstrate that cell viability is more affected by the
solidification and purification processes that occur after droplet
formation rather than the oil type used for the carrier phase. Specifically,
a shorter polymer cross-linking time and consequently lower cell exposure
to the harsh environment (e.g., acidic pH) results in a high cell
viability of over 90% within the protected microgels. Using nonfluorinated
oils, we propose a model system demonstrating the interplay between
crypt and Peyer’s patch cells using this microfluidic approach
to separately encapsulate the cells inside distinct alginate/gelatin
microgels, which allow for intercellular chemical communication. We
observed that the coculture of crypt cells alongside Peyer’s
patch immune cells improves the growth of healthy organoids inside
these microgels, which contain both differentiated and undifferentiated
cells over 21 days of coculture. These results indicate the possibility
of using droplet-based microfluidics for culturing organoids to expand
their applicability in clinical research
Microfluidic-Based Cell-Embedded Microgels Using Nonfluorinated Oil as a Model for the Gastrointestinal Niche
Microfluidic-based
cell encapsulation has promising potential in therapeutic applications.
It also provides a unique approach for studying cellular dynamics
and interactions, though this concept has not yet been fully explored.
No in vitro model currently exists that allows us to study the interaction
between crypt cells and Peyer’s patch immune cells because
of the difficulty in recreating, with sufficient control, the two
different microenvironments in the intestine in which these cell types
belong. However, we demonstrate that a microfluidic technique is able
to provide such precise control and that these cells can proliferate
inside microgels. Current microfluidic-based cell microencapsulation
techniques primarily use fluorinated oils. Herein, we study the feasibility
and biocompatibility of different nonfluorinated oils for application
in gastrointestinal cell encapsulation and further introduce a model
for studying intercellular chemical interactions with this approach.
Our results demonstrate that cell viability is more affected by the
solidification and purification processes that occur after droplet
formation rather than the oil type used for the carrier phase. Specifically,
a shorter polymer cross-linking time and consequently lower cell exposure
to the harsh environment (e.g., acidic pH) results in a high cell
viability of over 90% within the protected microgels. Using nonfluorinated
oils, we propose a model system demonstrating the interplay between
crypt and Peyer’s patch cells using this microfluidic approach
to separately encapsulate the cells inside distinct alginate/gelatin
microgels, which allow for intercellular chemical communication. We
observed that the coculture of crypt cells alongside Peyer’s
patch immune cells improves the growth of healthy organoids inside
these microgels, which contain both differentiated and undifferentiated
cells over 21 days of coculture. These results indicate the possibility
of using droplet-based microfluidics for culturing organoids to expand
their applicability in clinical research