The description of a microencapsulation procedure for Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (WJMSCs) is reported. The applied method is based on the generation of monodisperse droplets by a vibrational nozzle. An ionic alginate encapsulation procedure was utilized for the microbeads hardening. Different experimental parameters were analyzed, including frequency and amplitude of vibration, polymer pumping rate and distance between the nozzle and the gelling bath. The produced barium-alginate microbeads were characterized by excellent morphological characteristics as well as a very narrow size distribution. The microencapsulation procedure did not alter the morphology and viability of the encapsulated WJMSCs. In addition, the current paper reports the functional properties, in term of secretive profiles of both free and encapsulated WJMSCs. The analyzed factors were members of the family of interleukins, chemokines, growth factors and soluble forms of adhesion molecules. These experiments showed that despite encapsulation, most of the proteins analyzed were secreted both by the free and encapsulated cells, even if in a different extent. In conclusion, the described encapsulation procedure represents a promising strategy to utilize WJMSCs for possible in vivo applications in tissue engineering and biomedicine.
Encapsulation of mesenchymal stem cells from Wharton's jelly in alginate microbeads
Penolazzi L.;Tavanti E.;Vecchiatini R.;Vesce F.;Gambari R.;Nastruzzi C.;Piva R.
2010
Abstract
The description of a microencapsulation procedure for Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells (WJMSCs) is reported. The applied method is based on the generation of monodisperse droplets by a vibrational nozzle. An ionic alginate encapsulation procedure was utilized for the microbeads hardening. Different experimental parameters were analyzed, including frequency and amplitude of vibration, polymer pumping rate and distance between the nozzle and the gelling bath. The produced barium-alginate microbeads were characterized by excellent morphological characteristics as well as a very narrow size distribution. The microencapsulation procedure did not alter the morphology and viability of the encapsulated WJMSCs. In addition, the current paper reports the functional properties, in term of secretive profiles of both free and encapsulated WJMSCs. The analyzed factors were members of the family of interleukins, chemokines, growth factors and soluble forms of adhesion molecules. These experiments showed that despite encapsulation, most of the proteins analyzed were secreted both by the free and encapsulated cells, even if in a different extent. In conclusion, the described encapsulation procedure represents a promising strategy to utilize WJMSCs for possible in vivo applications in tissue engineering and biomedicine.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
