Living Cell Factories - Electrosprayed Microcapsules and Microcarriers for Minimally Invasive Delivery

Minimally invasive delivery of living cell factories consisting of cells and therapeutic agents has gained wide attention for next generation biomaterial device systems for multiple applications including musculoskeletal tissue regeneration, diabetes and cancer. Cellular-based microcapsules and microcarrier systems offer several attractive features for this particular purpose. One such technology capable of generating these types of systems is electrohydrodynamic (EHD) spraying. Depending on various parameters, including applied voltage, biomaterial properties (viscosity, conductivity) and needle geometry, complex structures and arrangements can be fabricated for therapeutic strategies. The advances in the use of EHD technology are outlined, specifically in the manipulation of bioactive and dynamic material systems to control size, composition and configuration in the development of minimally invasive micro-scaled biopolymeric systems. The exciting therapeutic applications of this technology, future perspectives and associated challenges are also presented.