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Generation of cell-laden hydrogel microspheres using 3D printing-enabled microfluidics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2018

Sanika Suvarnapathaki ,
Rafael Ramos ,
Stephen W. Sawyer ,
Shannon McLoughlin ,
Andrew Ramos ,
Sarah Venn  and
Pranav Soman
Sanika Suvarnapathaki
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
Rafael Ramos
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
Stephen W. Sawyer
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
Shannon McLoughlin
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
Andrew Ramos
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
Sarah Venn
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
Pranav Soman*
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

3D printing has been shown to be a robust and inexpensive manufacturing tool for a range of applications within biomedical science. Here we report the design and fabrication of a 3D printer-enabled microfluidic device used to generate cell-laden hydrogel microspheres of tunable sizes. An inverse mold was printed using a 3D printer, and replica molding was used to fabricate a PDMS microfluidic device. Intersecting channel geometry was used to generate perfluorodecalin oil-coated gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) microspheres of varying sizes (35–250 μm diameters). Process parameters such as viscosity profile and UV cross-linking times were determined for a range of GelMA concentrations (7–15% w/v). Empirical relationships between flow rates of GelMA and oil phases, microspheres size, and associated swelling properties were determined. For cell experiments, GelMA was mixed with human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells, to generate cell-laden GelMA microspheres with high long-term viability. This simple, inexpensive method does not require the use of traditional cleanroom facilities and when combined with the appropriate flow setup is robust enough to yield tunable cell-laden hydrogel microspheres for potential tissue engineering applications.

Keywords

biomaterialcellular (material form)polymer
Type
Invited Article
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 33 , Issue 14: Focus Issue: 3D Printing of Biomaterials , 27 July 2018 , pp. 2012 - 2018
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2018 

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Footnotes

b)

These authors contributed equally to this work.

References

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