abstract
Microfabrication technologies have been widely explored to produce microgels that can be assembled in functional constructs for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Here, we propose microfluidics coupled to a source of UV light to produce multifunctional methacrylated laminarin microparticles with narrow distribution of sizes using photopolyrnerization. The multifunctional microparticles were loaded with platelet lysates and further conjugated with an adhesive peptide. The adhesive peptides dictated cell adhesiveness to the laminarin microparticles, the incorporation of platelet lysates have resulted in improved cell expansion compared to clear microparticles. Overall, our findings demonstrate that multifunctional methacrylated laminarin microparticles provide an effective support for cell attachment and expansion. Moreover, expanded cells provide the link for microparticles aggregation resulting in robust 3D structures. This suggest the potential for using the methacrylated laminarin microplatforms capable to be assembled by the action of cells to rapidly produce large tissue engineered constructs.
keywords
FETAL BOVINE SERUM; PLATELET LYSATE; MICROFLUIDIC FABRICATION; HYDROGEL PARTICLES; ALGINATE MICROGELS; TISSUE CONSTRUCTS; GROWTH-FACTORS; IN-VIVO; MICROSPHERES; DELIVERY
subject category
Chemistry; Polymer Science
authors
Martins, CR; Custodio, CA; Mano, JF
our authors
Catarina de Almeida Custódio
Assistant Researcher
João Mano
Vice Directoracknowledgements
The work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679 (FCT Ref. UID/CTM/50011/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. This work was also supported by the European Research Council grant agreement ERC-2014-ADG-669858 for project ATLAS. C.A.C. acknowledges funding support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (fellowship SFRH/BPD/100594/2014)