Name: microfluidic fabrication of core-shell microcapsules carrying human pluripotent stem cell spheroids
Uploaded: 2021-10-13T14:30:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Microfluidic Fabrication of Core-Shell Microcapsules carrying Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Spheroids at JoVE.com

This study was supported in part by the grants from the Mayo Clinic Center for Regenerative Medicine, J. W. Kieckhefer Foundation, Al Nahyan Foundation, Regenerative Medicine Minnesota (RMM 101617 TR 004), and NIH (DK107255).

1. Device fabrication
<ol>
	<li>Make the designs for the microencapsulation device and dissociation device using CAD software10,11.</li>
	<li>Spin-coat the three layers of SU-8 photoresist sequentially on a silicon wafer (Figure 2A) to achieve structures with the desired heights: 60, 100, and 150 &#181;m. 
	NOTE: The process for the top and bottom molds is identical.
	<ol>
		<li>Spin coat a clean 10 cm silicon wafer with SU-8 ...

<ol>
	<li>Zhu, Z., Huangfu, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+pluripotent+stem+cells:+an+emerging+model+in+developmental+biology.">Human pluripotent stem cells: an emerging model in developmental biology.</a> Development. 140 (4), 705-717 (2013).</li><li>Liu, G., David, B. T., Trawczynski, M., Fessler, R. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Advances+in+pluripotent+stem+cells:+history,+mechanisms,+technologies,+and+applications.">Advances in pluripotent stem cells: history, mechanisms, technologies, and applications.</a> Stem Cell Reviews and Reports. 16 (1), 3-32 (2020).</li><li>Chan, S. W., Rizwan, M., Yim, E. K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Emerging+methods+for+enhancing+pluripotent+stem+cell+expansion.">Emerging methods for enhancing pluripotent stem cell expansion.</a> Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 8, 70 (2020).</li><li>Lei, Y., Schaffer, D. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+fully+defined+and+scalable+3D+culture+system+for+human+pluripotent+stem+cell+expansion+and+differentiation.">A fully defined and scalable 3D culture system for human pluripotent stem cell expansion and differentiation.</a> Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 110 (52), 5039-5048 (2013).</li><li>Olmer, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Suspension+culture+of+human+pluripotent+stem+cells+in+controlled,+stirred+bioreactors.">Suspension culture of human pluripotent stem cells in controlled, stirred bioreactors.</a> Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods. 18 (10), 772-784 (2012).</li><li>Kraehenbuehl, T. P., Langer, R., Ferreira, L. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Three-dimensional+biomaterials+for+the+study+of+human+pluripotent+stem+cells.">Three-dimensional biomaterials for the study of human pluripotent stem cells.</a> Nature Methods. 8 (9), 731-736 (2011).</li><li>Fattahi, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Core-shell+hydrogel+microcapsules+enable+formation+of+human+pluripotent+stem+cell+spheroids+and+their+cultivation+in+a+stirred+bioreactor.">Core-shell hydrogel microcapsules enable formation of human pluripotent stem cell spheroids and their cultivation in a stirred bioreactor.</a> Scientific Reports. 11 (1), 1-13 (2021).</li><li>Siltanen, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microfluidic+fabrication+of+bioactive+microgels+for+rapid+formation+and+enhanced+differentiation+of+stem+cell+spheroids.">Microfluidic fabrication of bioactive microgels for rapid formation and enhanced differentiation of stem cell spheroids.</a> Acta Biomaterialia. 34, 125-132 (2016).</li><li>Agarwal, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=One-step+microfluidic+generation+of+pre-hatching+embryo-like+core-shell+microcapsules+for+miniaturized+3D+culture+of+pluripotent+stem+cells.">One-step microfluidic generation of pre-hatching embryo-like core-shell microcapsules for miniaturized 3D culture of pluripotent stem cells.</a> Lab on a Chip. 13 (23), 4525-4533 (2013).</li><li>Siltanen, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=One+step+fabrication+of+hydrogel+microcapsules+with+hollow+core+for+assembly+and+cultivation+of+hepatocyte+spheroids.">One step fabrication of hydrogel microcapsules with hollow core for assembly and cultivation of hepatocyte spheroids.</a> Acta Biomaterialia. 50, 428-436 (2017).</li><li>Rahimian, A., Siltanen, C., Feyzizarnagh, H., Escalante, P., Revzin, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microencapsulated+immunoassays+for+detection+of+cytokines+in+human+blood.">Microencapsulated immunoassays for detection of cytokines in human blood.</a> ACS Sensors. 4 (3), 578-585 (2019).</li><li>Kim, M., Lee, J., Jones, C. N., Revzin, A., Tae, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Heparin-based+hydrogel+as+a+matrix+for+encapsulation+and+cultivation+of+primary+hepatocytes.">Heparin-based hydrogel as a matrix for encapsulation and cultivation of primary hepatocytes.</a> Biomaterials. 31, 3596-3603 (2010).</li><li>Shin, D. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Photodegradable+hydrogels+for+capture,+detection,+and+release+of+live+cells.">Photodegradable hydrogels for capture, detection, and release of live cells.</a> Angewandte Chemie International Edition. , (2014).</li><li>You, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bioactive+photodegradable+hydrogel+for+cultivation+and+retrieval+of+embryonic+stem+cells.">Bioactive photodegradable hydrogel for cultivation and retrieval of embryonic stem cells.</a> Advanced Functional Materials. , (2015).</li></ol>

The encapsulation process described here results in reproducible formation of hPSC spheroids. The microcapsule format makes it easy to dispense spheroids into wells of a microtiter plate for experiments aimed at improving/optimizing differentiation protocols or testing therapies. Encapsulated stem cell spheroids may also be used in suspensions cultures where hydrogel shell protects cells against shear-induced damage7.
There are several critical steps within the protocol...

There is considerable interest in 3D cultures of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs)&#160;due to the improved pluripotency and differentiation potential afforded by this culture format1,2,3. hPSCs are typically formed into spheroids or other 3D culture formats by means of bioreactors, microwells, hydrogels, and polymeric scaffolds4,5,6. Encapsulation offers another means for organizing single hPSCs into spheroids. Once encapsulated hPSC spheroids may be handled with ease and transferred into microtiter plates for differentiation, disease modeling, or drug testing experiments. Encasing hPSCs in a hydrogel layer also protects cells against shear damage and allows to culture spheroids in a bioreactor at high rates of stirring7.
Our methodology for stem cell encapsulation evolved over time. First, we focused on solid hydrogel microparticles and demonstrated successful encapsulation and cultivation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs)8. However, it was noted that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) had low viability when encapsulated in such hydrogel microparticles, presumably due to the greater need for these cells to re-establish cell-cell contacts after the encapsulation. We reasoned that heterogeneous microcapsule, possessing an aqueous core, may be better suited for encapsulation of cells that rely on rapid re-establishment of cell-cell contacts. The concept of co-axial flow focusing microfluidic device for making aqueous core/hydrogel shell microcapsules was adapted from He et al.9, but instead of alginate employed in the original approach, a PEG-based hydrogel was incorporated into the shell. We first demonstrated successful encapsulation and spheroid formation of primary hepatocyte in core-shell microcapsules10 and most recently described encapsulation of hES and iPS cells7. As outlined in Figure 1A, capsules are fabricated in a flow focusing device where the shell and core flow streams transition from side-to-side to co-axial flow before ejection into the oil phase. The core flow contains cells and additives that increase the viscosity of the solution (non-reactive PEG MW 35kD and iodixanol - commercial name OptiPrep) while the shell stream contains reactive molecules (PEG-4-Mal). Continuous co-axial flow stream is discretized into droplets that retain core-shell architecture. The core-shell structure is made permanent by exposure to di-thiol crosslinker (DTT), which reacts with PEG-4-Mal via click chemistry and results in formation of a thin (~10 &#181;m) hydrogel skin or shell. After the emulsion is broken and capsules are transferred into an aqueous phase, molecules of PEG diffuse from the core and are replaced by water molecules. This results in aqueous core and hydrogel shell microcapsules.
Provided below are step-by-step instructions on how to make microfluidic devices, how to prepare cells, and how to carry out encapsulation of hPSCs.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>0.22 &#181;m Syringe Filters</td>
			<td>Genesee Scientific</td>
			<td>25-244</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
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			<td>1 ml syringe luer-lock tip</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>309628</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>1x DPBS</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>23220003</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>4-arm PEG maleimide, 10kDa</td>
			<td>Laysan Inc.</td>
			<td>164-68</td>
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			<td>5 ml syringe luer-lock tip</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>309646</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>6-WELL NON-TREATED PLATE</td>
			<td>USA Scientific</td>
			<td>CC7672-7506</td>
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			<td>Aquapel Applicator Pack</td>
			<td>Aquapel Glass Treatment</td>
			<td>47100</td>
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			<td>CAD software</td>
			<td>Autodesk</td>
			<td>AutoCAD v2020</td>
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			<td>CELL STRAINER 100 &#181;m pore size</td>
			<td>cardinal</td>
			<td>335583</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Chlorotrimethylsilane</td>
			<td>Aldrich</td>
			<td>386529-100mL</td>
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			<td>Countess II FL Automated Cell Counter</td>
			<td>Life technology</td>
			<td>A27974</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Dataplate</td>
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			<td>Digital vortex mixer</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>215370</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Distilled water</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>15230-162</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Dithiotheritol (DTT)</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>D0632-10G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
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			<td>DMEM/F12 media</td>
			<td>gibco</td>
			<td>11320-033</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Falcon 15 mL Conical Centrifuge Tubes</td>
			<td>Fisher scientific</td>
			<td>14-959-53A</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Fisherbrand accuSpin Micro 17 Microcentrifuge</td>
			<td>live</td>
			<td>13-100-675</td>
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			<td>HERACELL VIOS 160i CO2 Incubator</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>50144906</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Inverted Fluorescence Motorized Microscope</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td>Olympus IX83</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Laurell Spin Coaters</td>
			<td>Laurell Technologies</td>
			<td>WS-650MZ-23NPPB</td>
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			<td>Live/Dead mammalian staining kit</td>
			<td>Fisher</td>
			<td>L3224</td>
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			<td>Magic tape</td>
			<td>Staples</td>
			<td>483535</td>
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			<td>Micro Medical Tubing (0.015&#34; I.D. x 0.043&#34; O.D.)</td>
			<td>Scientific Commodities, Inc</td>
			<td>BB31695-PE/2</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Micro stir bar</td>
			<td>Daigger Scientific</td>
			<td>EF3288E</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>MilliporeSigma Filter Forceps</td>
			<td>Fisher scientific</td>
			<td>XX6200006P</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mineral oil</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>M8410-1L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
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			<td>mTeSR 1 Basal Medium</td>
			<td>STEMCELL TECHNOLOGY</td>
			<td>85850</td>
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			<td>CML supply</td>
			<td>901-14-025</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Needles-Stainless Steel&#160; 15 Gauge</td>
			<td>CML supply</td>
			<td>901-15-050</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>OptiPrep</td>
			<td>STEMCELL TECHNOLOGY</td>
			<td>7820</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>Oven</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>HERA THERM Oven</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Penicillin:Streptomycin (10,000 U/mL Penicillin G, 10mg/mL Streptomycin)</td>
			<td>Gemini</td>
			<td>400-109</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Petri Dish 150X20 Sterile Vent</td>
			<td>Sarstedt, Inc.</td>
			<td>82.1184.500</td>
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			<td>Plasma Cleaning System</td>
			<td>Yield Engineering System, Inc.</td>
			<td>YES-G500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pluronic F-127</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>P2443-250G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Poly(ethylene glycol) 35kDa</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>94646-250G-F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PrecisionGlide Needle 27G</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>305109</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Rock inhibitor Y-27632 dihydrocloride</td>
			<td>SELLECK CHEM</td>
			<td>S1049-10mg</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Silicon wafer 100mm</td>
			<td>University Wafer</td>
			<td>452</td>
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			<td>Slide glass (75mm &#180; 25mm)</td>
			<td>CardinalHealth</td>
			<td>M6146</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Span 80</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>S6760-250ML</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SpeedMixer</td>
			<td>Thinky</td>
			<td>ARE-310</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
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			<td>Spin-X Centrifuge Tube Filter (0.22 &#181;m)</td>
			<td>Costar</td>
			<td>8160</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr>
			<td>SU-8 2025</td>
			<td>Kayaku Advanced Materials</td>
			<td>Y111069 0500L1GL</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>SU-8 developer</td>
			<td>Kayaku Advanced Materials</td>
			<td>Y020100 4000L1PE</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Surgical Design Royaltek Stainless Steel Surgical Scalpel Blades</td>
			<td>fisher scientific</td>
			<td>22-079-684</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>SYLGARD TM 184 Silicone Elastomer Kit (PDMS)</td>
			<td>Dow Corning</td>
			<td>2065622</td>
			<td></td>
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			<td>Syringe pump</td>
			<td>New Era Pump System, Inc</td>
			<td>NE-4000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triethanolamine</td>
			<td>Sigma-aldrich</td>
			<td>T58300-25G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>TrypLE Express</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>12604-013</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tygon Tubing (0.02&#34; I.D. x 0.06&#34; O.D.)</td>
			<td>Cole-Parmer</td>
			<td>06419-01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tygon Tubing (0.04&#34; I.D. x 0.07&#34; O.D.)</td>
			<td>Cole-Parmer</td>
			<td>06419-04</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ultrasonic cleaner FS20D</td>
			<td>Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>CPN-962-152R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vacuum desiccator</td>
			<td>Bel-Art</td>
			<td>F42025-0000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Zeiss Stemi DV4 Stereo Microscope 8x-32x</td>
			<td>ZEISS</td>
			<td>435421-0000-000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>&#956;PG 101 laser writer</td>
			<td>Heidelberg Instruments</td>
			<td>HI 1128</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

microfluidic fabrication of core-shell microcapsules carrying human pluripotent stem cell spheroids

Three-dimensional (3D) or spheroid cultures of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer the benefits of improved differentiation outcomes and scalability. In this paper, we describe a strategy for the robust and reproducible formation of hPSC spheroids where a co-axial flow focusing device is utilized to entrap hPSCs inside core-shell microcapsules. The core solution contained single cell suspension of hPSCs and was made viscous by the incorporation of high molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and density gradient media. The shell stream comprised of PEG-4 arm-maleimide or PEG-4-Mal and flowed alongside the core stream toward two consecutive oil junctions. Droplet formation occurred at the first oil junction with shell solution wrapping itself around the core. Chemical crosslinking of the shell occurred at the second oil junction by introducing a di-thiol crosslinker (1,4-dithiothreitol or DTT) to these droplets. The crosslinker reacts with maleimide functional groups via click chemistry, resulting in the formation of a hydrogel shell around the microcapsules. Our encapsulation technology produced 400 &#181;m diameter capsules at a rate of 10 capsules per second. The resultant capsules had a hydrogel shell and an aqueous core that allowed single cells to rapidly assemble into aggregates and form spheroids. The process of encapsulation did not adversely affect the viability of hPSCs, with &gt;95% viability observed 3 days post-encapsulation. For comparison, hPSCs encapsulated in solid gel microparticles (without an aqueous core) did not form spheroids and had &lt;50% viability 3 days after encapsulation. Spheroid formation of hPSCs inside core-shell microcapsules occurred within 48 h after encapsulation, with the spheroid diameter being a function of cell inoculation density. Overall, the microfluidic encapsulation technology described in this protocol was well-suited for hPSCs encapsulation and spheroid formation.

By following the above-mentioned protocol, the reader will be able to fabricate microfluidic devices and produce cell-carrying microcapsules. Figure 3A shows examples of optimal and suboptimal microcapsules fabricated using microfluidic droplet generation. Different formulations of PEG-4-Mal resulted in capsules of varying morphologies - wrinkled capsules were associated with poor gelation, low mechanical integrity, and did not withstand cultivation in a stirred bioreactor. Smooth capsules o...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Microfluidic Fabrication of Core-Shell Microcapsules carrying Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Spheroids at JoVE.com

Microfluidic Fabrication of Core-Shell Microcapsules carrying Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Spheroids

This article describes encapsulation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) using a co-axial flow focusing device. We demonstrate that this microfluidic encapsulation technology enables efficient formation of hPSC spheroids.

Three-dimensional (3D) or spheroid cultures of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer the benefits of improved differentiation outcomes and ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

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Microfluidic Picoliter Bioreactor for Microbial Single-cell Analysis: Fabrication, System Setup, and Operation

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