Microencapsulated islet-like microtissues with toroid geometry for enhanced cellular viability

Waffle‐inspired hydrogel‐based macrodevice for spatially controlled distribution of encapsulated therapeutic microtissues and pro‐angiogenic endothelial cells

“…In the in vitro experiments of this study, insulin‐secreting multi‐cellular spheroids consisting of rat insulinoma INS‐1E cells, which were commonly used to mimic beta cells in the study of type I diabetes, were utilized as the model of islet‐like therapeutic microtissues to be encapsulated in the WIM device. These spheroids were assembled from monodispersed INS‐1E cells prior to their addition onto the GelMA micropattern 26 . In subsequent preliminary in vivo evaluation, primary islets derived from Sprague Dawley rats were utilized.…”

“…Preservation of cellular viability is a critical criterion influencing the functional performance of the encapsulated therapeutic cells. Thus, we examined the viability of INS‐1E microtissues encapsulated in the S‐300 WIM device by staining them with Calcein‐AM and ethidium homodimer‐1 followed by confocal microscopy to identify live and dead cells by green and red fluorescence, respectively 26 …”

“…INS‐1 E microtissues were fabricated using agarose molds as previously described 26 . First, solid Ultrapure© Agarose (Invitrogen) was autoclaved and dissolved in autoclaved deionized water at 150°C to form a solution with the concentration of 2.3% (w/v).…”

Effects of collagen membranes and bone substitute differ in periodontal ligament cell microtissues and monolayers

“… 29 Large spheroids are easy to handle and process for experiments, thus, suitable for first insights into their characteristics and functional behavior. To circumvent the zoning in microtissues due to large size and keep the handy size at the same time, other microtissue shapes could be tested that allow more diffusion of nutrients 47 or co‐culture with endothelial cells could be developed to mimic vasculature, 48 which becomes essential with growing cell density.…”

Type 1 diabetes and engineering enhanced islet transplantation

“…Interestingly, there is a correlation between fibrotic response and capsule geometry [240] . Chen et al [241] compared toroid, rod and spheroid geometries of insulin-secreting microtissues by using agarose and alginate hydrogels and characterized the structural properties and cell viability. They identified that the morphology of toroid microtissues supports structure integrity and mechanical stability, which can prevent gel leakage from the device and improve the long-term survival of encapsulated insulin-producing cells.…”