Advanced microfabrication technologies and biocompatible hydrogel materials facilitate the modeling of 3D tissue microenvironment. Encapsulation of cells in hydrogel microparticles offers an excellent high-throughput platform for investigating multicellular interaction with their surrounding microenvironment. Compartmentalized microparticles support formation of various unique cellular structures. Alginate has emerged as one of the most dominant hydrogel materials for cell encapsulation owing to its cytocompatibility, ease of gelation, and biocompatibility. Alginate hydrogel provides a permeable physical boundary to the encapsulated cells and develops an easily manageable 3D cellular structure. The interior structure of alginate hydrogel can further regulate the spatiotemporal distribution of the embedded cells. This review provides a specific overview of the representative engineering approaches to generate various structures of cell-laden alginate microparticles in a uniform and reproducible manner. Capillary nozzle systems, microfluidic droplet systems, and non-chip based high-throughput microfluidic systems are highlighted for developing well-regulated cellular structure in alginate microparticles to realize potential drug screening platform and cell-based therapy. We conclude with the discussion of current limitations and future directions for realizing the translation of this technology to the clinic.
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
The cover image is an illustrative representation of chloroplast ATP synthases in a thylakoid membrane. In photosynthetic organisms the rotor complex of the ATP synthase (blue and cyan) is specifically adapted to physiological needs of the plant or cyanobacterial cell. For more details, see the review by Cheuk and Meier (pages 541–550). The figure was made by Anthony Cheuk.
Engineered cell-laden alginate microparticles for 3D culture Available to Purchase
Bumseok Namgung, Kalpana Ravi, Pooja Prathyushaa Vikraman, Shiladitya Sengupta, Hae Lin Jang; Engineered cell-laden alginate microparticles for 3D culture. Biochem Soc Trans 30 April 2021; 49 (2): 761–773. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20200673
Download citation file:
Sign in
Sign in to your personal account
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
Get Email Alerts
Open Access for all
We offer compliant routes for all authors from 2025. With library support, there will be no author nor reader charges in 5 journals. Check here |
![]() |