Comparative diffusivity measurements for alginate-based atomized and inkjet-bioprinted artificial cells using fluorescence microscopy

Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol. 2013 Jun;41(3):196-201. doi: 10.3109/10731199.2012.716064. Epub 2012 Sep 19.

Abstract

Radial diffusivity profiles of atomized (MC, d = 1800 ± 200 µm) and inkjet-printed (MI, d = 40 ± 5 µm) alginate-based artificial cells have been generated using 2D Fluorescence Microscopy. The passive outward diffusion of FITC-Dextrans from MIs (0.5% LV alginate/15% CaCl2 coated with 0.5% Chitosan) and MCs (1.5% MV alginate/1.5% CaCl2) was measured and quantified using a Fickian model. As an expected outcome of miniaturization, the ratios of the outer layer diffusivities defined as D(MIout)/D(MCout) were 4.25 and 5.07 respectively for the 4 and 70 kDa markers, indicative of the enhanced diffusive potential of the miniaturized capsules.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / chemistry*
  • Artificial Cells / chemistry*
  • Bioprinting / methods*
  • Calcium Chloride / chemistry*
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Dextrans
  • Diffusion
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / analogs & derivatives
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Glucuronic Acid / chemistry
  • Hexuronic Acids / chemistry
  • Hydrogels
  • Kinetics
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Particle Size

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Dextrans
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Hydrogels
  • fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Chitosan
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
  • Calcium Chloride