Cell Encapsulation in Soft, Anisometric Poly(ethylene) Glycol Microgels Using a Novel Radical-Free Microfluidic System

Complex 3D artificial tissue constructs are extensively investigated for tissue regeneration. Frequently, materials and cells are delivered separately without benefitting from the synergistic effect of combined administration. Cell delivery inside a material construct provides the cells with a supportive environment by presenting biochemical, mechanical, and structural signals to direct cell behavior. Conversely, the cell/material interaction is poorly understood at the micron scale and new systems are required to investigate the effect of micron-scale features on cell functionality. Consequently, cells are encapsulated in microgels to avoid diffusion limitations of nutrients and waste and facilitate analysis techniques of single or collective cells. However, up to now, the production of soft cell-loaded microgels by microfluidics is limited to spherical microgels. Here, a novel method is presented to produce monodisperse, anisometric poly(ethylene) glycol microgels to study cells inside an anisometric architecture. These microgels can potentially direct cell growth and can be injected as rod-shaped mini-tissues that further assemble into organized macroscopic and macroporous structures post-injection. Their aspect ratios are adjusted with flow parameters, while mechanical and biochemical properties are altered by modifying the precursors. Encapsulated primary fibroblasts are viable and spread and migrate across the 3D microgel structure.