Controlled Construction of Stable Network Structure Composed of Honeycomb-Shaped Microhydrogels

Masayuki Hayakawa,Satoshi Umeyama,Masahiro Takinoue,Hiroaki Onoe,Ken Nagai

doi:10.3390/life8040038

Abstract

Recently, the construction of models for multicellular systems such as tissues has been attracting great interest. These model systems are expected to reproduce a cell communication network and provide insight into complicated functions in living systems./Such network structures have mainly been modelled using a droplet and a vesicle. However, in the droplet and vesicle network, there are difficulties attributed to structural instabilities due to external stimuli and perturbations. Thus, the fabrication of a network composed of a stable component such as hydrogel is desired. In this article, the construction of a stable network composed of honeycomb-shaped microhydrogels is described. We produced the microhydrogel network using a centrifugal microfluidic technique and a photosensitive polymer. In the network, densely packed honeycomb-shaped microhydrogels were observed. Additionally, we successfully controlled the degree of packing of microhydrogels in the network by changing the centrifugal force. We believe that our stable network will contribute to the study of cell communication in multicellular systems.

Highlights

In a living multicellular system, such as tissue, sophisticated functions are realized via the organization of individual cells
We examined the diffusion of the fluorescence molecule in the Milli-Q water (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), the bulk hydrogel, and the honeycomb microhydrogel network
Honeycombmicrohydrogel microhydrogel network that accumulated at the bottom of the sampling tube

Summary

Introduction

In a living multicellular system, such as tissue, sophisticated functions are realized via the organization of individual cells. The experimental construction of models for living multicellular systems has attracted considerable interest. The use of such model systems allows the extraction of the essence of highly orchestrated but complicated functions in living systems, and helps to understand them. Gap junctions perform the exchange of small molecules and ions, which is vital for homeostasis maintenance [1,2]; cell communication through molecular diffusion is an important factor in the pattern formation of skin [3,4]. Using diffusively-connected networks of droplets, various pattern formations [5,6], chemical communications via quorum signalling molecules [7], and a differentiation process [8] have been investigated. In the surfactant bilayer network [9] and networks of aqueous droplets [10,11], the construction of pore-connected pathways conducting an electric current was demonstrated

Methods

Results

Conclusion