Evaluation of modified alginate-chitosan-polyethylene glycol microcapsules for cell encapsulation

Thomas Chandy, Daniel L. Mooradian, Gundu H.R. Rao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

120 Scopus citations

Abstract

A bioartificial pancreas, a medical device entrapping islets of Langerhans (islets) in an immunoisolative membrane, has been regarded as one of the most promising approaches to treat insulin-dependent diabetic patients. In this study, various modifications of alginate-chitosan microcapsules were made such as the inclusion of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the use of crosslinkers such as carbodiimide (EDC) and glutaraldehyde (GA) in the core and onto the microcapsule membrane surface. A characterization of the modified microcapsules in terms of mechanical stability and albumin diffusion as well as their surface properties using SEM was performed. A mild GA treatment greatly enhanced the mechanical stability of the microcapsules, and this treatment did not affect the coating process of chitosan or PEG. The biological response to such microcapsules was evaluated by microencapsulation of red blood cells (RBC) and subsequent observation of their hemoglobin release. The encapsulated RBC in the PEG-GA coated microcapsules were found to be less hemolytic and had improved stability and biocompatibility. The results suggest the possibility of developing biological assist organs by microencapsulation of mammalian cells such as islets or liver cells in immunoisolative microcapsules in the near future.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)894-903
Number of pages10
JournalArtificial Organs
Volume23
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Alginate-chitosan
  • Artificial cells
  • Microcapsules
  • Polyethylene glycol
  • RBC encapsulation

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