Functionalized Microgel Rods Interlinked into Soft Macroporous Structures for 3D Cell Culture

Advanced Science, vol. 9, pp. e2103554

Abstract

In this work, a two component microgel assembly using soft anisometric microgels that interlink to create a 3D macroporous construct for cell growth is reported. Reactive microgel rods with variable aspect ratio are produced via microfluidics in a continuous plug-flow on-chip gelation method by photoinitiated free-radical polymerization of star-polyethylene glycol-acrylate with glycidyl methacrylate or 2-aminoethyl methacrylate comonomers. The resulting complementary epoxy- and amine-functionalized microgels assemble and interlink with each other via a ring opening reaction, resulting in macroporous constructs with pores up to several hundreds of micrometers. The level of crosslinking depends on the functionalization degree of the microgels, which also affects the stiffness and cell adhesiveness of the microgels when modified with the cell-adhesive GRGDS-PC peptide. Therefore, 3D spreading and growth of cells inside the macroporous structure is influenced not only by the presence of macropores but also by the mechanical and biochemical properties of the individual microgels.

Authors 10

1. Dirk Rommel Aachen Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany

2. Matthias Mork Aachen Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany

3. Sitara Vedaraman Aachen Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany

4. Céline Bastard Aachen Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany

5. Luis P. B. Guerzoni Aachen Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany

6. Yonca Kittel Aachen Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany

7. Rostislav A. Vinokur Aachen

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany

8. Nikolai Born
   Affiliation as printed

   Optics11Life Amsterdam 1081 Netherlands

   Optics11Life, Amsterdam, 1081 Netherlands

9. Tamás Haraszti Aachen Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany

   Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany

10. Laura De Laporte corresponding Aachen Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine

    DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

    Affiliation as printed

    DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials Aachen 52074 Germany

    Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany

    Institute of Applied Medical Engineering Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine RWTH Aachen University Aachen 52074 Germany

    Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany

    Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, Department of Advanced Materials for Biomedicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074 Germany