Functionalized Microgel Rods Interlinked into Soft Macroporous Structures for 3D Cell Culture

In this work, a two component microgel assembly using soft anisometric microgels that interlink to create a 3D macroporous construct for cell growth is reported. Reactive microgel rods with variable aspect ratio are produced via microfluidics in a continuous plug-flow on-chip gelation method by photoinitiated free-radical polymerization of star-polyethylene glycol-acrylate with glycidyl methacrylate or 2-aminoethyl methacrylate comonomers. The resulting complementary epoxy- and amine-functionalized microgels assemble and interlink with each other via a ring opening reaction, resulting in macroporous constructs with pores up to several hundreds of micrometers. The level of crosslinking depends on the functionalization degree of the microgels, which also affects the stiffness and cell adhesiveness of the microgels when modified with the cell-adhesive GRGDS-PC peptide. Therefore, 3D spreading and growth of cells inside the macroporous structure is influenced not only by the presence of macropores but also by the mechanical and biochemical properties of the individual microgels.

Automated summary

This work presents a two-component microgel assembly that creates a 3D macroporous construct for cell growth. The reactive microgel rods, produced through microfluidics, assemble and interlink with each other via a ring opening reaction, resulting in macroporous constructs with pores up to several hundreds of micrometers. The functionalization degree of the microgels affects the crosslinking level, as well as the mechanical and biochemical properties that influence cell adhesiveness and growth within the macroporous structure.