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Multisized Photoannealable Microgels Regulate Cell Spreading, Aggregation, and Macrophage Phenotype through Microporous Void Space.

Jeremy M LowenGabriella C BondKatherine H GriffinNathan K ShimamotoVictoria L ThaiJ Kent Leach
Published in: Advanced healthcare materials (2023)
Microgels are an emerging platform for in vitro models and guiding cell fate due to their inherent porosity and tunability. This work describes a light-based technique for rapidly annealing microgels across a range of diameters. Utilizing 8-arm PEG-vinyl sulfone, we stoichiometrically control the number of arms available for crosslinking, functionalization, and annealing. We fabricate small and large microgels to explore how microgel diameter impacts void space and the role of porosity on cell spreading, cell aggregation, and macrophage polarization. Mesenchymal stromal cells spread rapidly in both formulations, yet the smaller microgels permit a higher cell density. When seeded with macrophages, the smaller microgels promote an M1 phenotype, while larger microgels promote an M2 phenotype. As another application, we leverage the inherent porosity of annealed microgels to induce cell aggregation. Finally, we implant our microgels to examine how different size microgels influence endogenous cell invasion and macrophage polarization. The use of ultraviolet light allows for microgels to be noninvasively injected into a desired mold or wound defect before annealing, and microgels of different properties combined to create a heterogeneous scaffold. This approach is clinically relevant given its tunability and fast annealing time. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keyphrases
  • single cell
  • cell therapy
  • adipose tissue
  • high throughput
  • drug delivery
  • mesenchymal stem cells
  • wound healing