Abstract

On-Chip Generation of Cell Laden Microcarriers using Microfluidics

Md Danish Eqbal, PhD student, Indian Instiute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai

Microfluidics plays a prominent role in the cell encapsulation and drug delivery areas. Alginate particles generated using microfluidics are monodispersed, homogenous and uniform in shape and size which is more suitable for the cell carriers. In this microfluidic work we show studies on fibroblast 3T3 cells and bacterial (E coli K12) cell encapsulated in alginate matrix. Fibroblasts are the major component of the heart cells and secrete extracellular matrix (ECM) and other growth factors. Therefore encapsulation of fibroblasts in alginate gel would be very useful in the medical context. The size of the fibroblast is approximately 10 times the size of the bacterial cells. Here we are demonstrating the easy method for the generation of alginate cell laden micro carriers using microfluidic approach. Our aim is to have the viability study of these encapsulated cells.