Abstract

Soft Hybrid Units For the Biomanufacture of Tissues For Regenerative Medicine

João F. Mano, Professor Department of Chemistry, CICECO — Aveiro Institute of Materials, University of Aveiro

Sophisticated strategies have been proposed to encapsulate cells in micro-compartments using distinct biomaterials, to be explored in bottom-up tissue engineering strategies. We propose distinct enabling technologies that could be used to encapsulate both molecules and cells in geometrically controlled units that could be then assembled into bigger structures. Superhydrophobic surfaces serve as platforms to process basic units of hydrogels in mild conditions, permitting the encapsulation of living cells and other biological cargo with high efficiency. In another strategy, capsules are fabricated using the so-called layer-by-layer technology, where the consecutive layers are well stabilized by electrostatic interactions or other weak forces. By using spherical templates containing cells it is possible to produce liquefied capsules that may entrap viable cells. The presence of solid microparticles inside such capsules offers adequate surface area for adherent cell attachment (with controlled mechanical properties) increasing the biological performance of these hierarchical systems, while maintain both permeability and injectability. The liquid environment allows for a free-organization in the space of the cells towards the formation of new microtissues.