Development of alginate-gelatin 'artificial cell' for cell encapsulation

Abstract

), or tissue-culture-grade Petri dishes (5-6 cm), pipette (1 ml), sodium alginate (1%), purified gelatin (2%), sodium chloride (0.9%), ice cold calcium chloride (10%), HEPES (2-(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl) ethanesulfonic acid) (pH 7.2), stainless steel needle syringe. Non sterile: Chicken liver tissue, thigh bone of an adult chicken, 70% ethanol, inverted phase contrast microscope. Abstract Current study was aimed towards preparation of a prototype of 'artificial cell' for encapsulation of chicken hepatocytes usin g a biocompatible material and investigation on the influence of chicken bone marrow cells on viability of hepatocytes under in vitro culture conditions. A mixture of sodium alginate-gelatin (1:2 ratio) and isolated cells at definite seeding concentrations were added to 0.9% ice cold solution of calcium chloride for the preparation of very thin gelatin hydrogels with cells encapsulated in it. Viability of hepatocytes was evaluated at 48hrs of incubation under 3 different combinations of cultures, such as hepatocytes alone in monolayer culture, co-culturing of hepatocytes with encapsulated bone marrow cells and culture of co-encapsulated hepatocytes and bone marrow cells in hydrogels. Trypan blue cell viability tests confirmed reasonably good level of viability (70%) of encapsulated cells, confirming suitability of the hydrogel for the purpose. Further, the study has revealed positive influence of encapsulated bone marrow cells in enhancing the viability of hepatocytes when co-cultured with hepatocytes as monolayer culture. Outcomes of the study would find application in tissue regeneration process.