Alginate microgels as delivery vehicles for cell-based therapies in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Mengjie Xu; Miao Qin; Yizhu Cheng; Xiaolian Niu; Jinlong Kong; Xiumei Zhang; Di Huang; Huanan Wang

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118128

Alginate microgels as delivery vehicles for cell-based therapies in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Carbohydr Polym. 2021 Aug 15:266:118128. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118128. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Authors

Mengjie Xu¹, Miao Qin², Yizhu Cheng², Xiaolian Niu², Jinlong Kong², Xiumei Zhang², Di Huang³, Huanan Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Research Center for Nano-biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, PR China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Material Strength & Structural Impact, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, PR China.
² Department of Biomedical Engineering, Research Center for Nano-biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, PR China.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Research Center for Nano-biomaterials & Regenerative Medicine, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, PR China; Shanxi Key Laboratory of Material Strength & Structural Impact, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, PR China. Electronic address: huangjw2067@163.com.
⁴ School of Bioengineering, State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023, PR China. Electronic address: huananwang@dlut.edu.cn.

PMID: 34044944
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118128

Abstract

Conventional stem cell delivery typically utilize administration of directly injection of allogenic cells or domesticated autogenic cells. It may lead to immune clearance of these cells by the host immune systems. Alginate microgels have been demonstrated to improve the survival of encapsulated cells and overcome rapid immune clearance after transplantation. Moreover, alginate microgels can serve as three-dimensional extracellular matrix to support cell growth and protect allogenic cells from rapid immune clearance, with functions as delivery vehicles to achieve sustained release of therapeutic proteins and growth factors from the encapsulated cells. Besides, cell-loaded alginate microgels can potentially be applied in regenerative medicine by serving as injectable engineered scaffolds to support tissue regrowth. In this review, the properties of alginate and different methods to produce alginate microgels are introduced firstly. Then, we focus on diverse applications of alginate microgels for cell delivery in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Keywords: Alginate; Cell delivery; Cell encapsulation; Microfabrication; Microgels.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Alginates / chemistry*
Animals
Cell Encapsulation / methods
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Transplantation / methods*
Humans
Microgels / chemistry*
Regenerative Medicine / methods*
Tissue Engineering / methods*
Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

Alginates
Microgels