Abstract
Liquid marble is a liquid droplet coated with hydrophobic powder that can be used as a bioreactor. This paper reports the three-dimensional self-assembly and culture of a cell toroid in a slow-releasing, non-adhesive and evaporation-reducing bioreactor platform based on a liquid marble. The bioreactor is constructed by embedding a hydrogel sphere containing growth factor into a liquid marble filled with a suspension of dissociated cells. The hydrogel maintains the water content and concurrently acts as a slow-release carrier. The concentration gradient of growth factor induces cell migration and assembly into toroidal aggregates. An optimum cell concentration resulted in the toroidal (doughnut-like) tissue after 12 hours. The harvested cell toroids showed rapid closure of the inner opening when treated with the growth factor. We also present a geometric growth model to describe the shape of the toroidal tissue over time. In analogy to the classical two-dimensional scratch assay, we propose that the cell toroids reported here open up new possibilities to screen drugs affecting cell migration in three dimensions.
Highlights
Liquid marbles, liquid droplets coated with hydrophobic powder, have been recently used for culturing cells[15]
We present a new method to allow cells to assemble by chemotaxis in a concentration gradient of growth factor
The hydrogel sphere serves as a storage of growth factor for slow release into the culture medium for sustainable growth of the 3D tissues
Summary
Liquid droplets coated with hydrophobic powder, have been recently used for culturing cells[15]. The present paper reports another unique method to make a slow-evaporating liquid marble suitable for culturing 3D cell toroids. The hydrogel sphere serves as a storage of growth factor for slow release into the culture medium for sustainable growth of the 3D tissues This platform offers additional controllability through careful manipulation of the marble motion, shape and composition of the hydrogel sphere, which in turn generates a concentration gradient of growth factor for chemotaxis. This platform allows for the growth of conventional cell spheroids and more complex tissue geometries such as cell toroids. The present paper reports a 3D model with toroidal geometry that is formed through self-assembly of cells
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
