Abstract
Human hepatoma (HepG2) cells were microencapsulated in hydroxyethyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate by an interfacial precipitation process. The secretion of a,-antitrypsin (AT: 52 kDa) and fibrinogen (Fbg: 340 kDa) from individual capsules was determined using sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. A significant capsule-to-capsule variation in the secretion rates of both AT and Fbg was found. After 2 weeks of in vitro culture, ∼ 20 and 70% of the capsules did not secrete any detectable AT and Fbg, respectively. The relative secretion of Fbg with respect to AT (Fbg/AT) for those capsules which secreted AT also varied among the individual capsules: ∼50% of capsules had zero Fbg/AT, presumably indicating the fraction of the capsules exhibiting the expected sieving effect to the larger protein Fbg but not to the smaller protein AT. Using a new procedure for the permeability of individual capsules (horseradish peroxidase, 40 kDa, as the model protein), a significant capsule-to-capsule variation in protein permeability was found consistent with the observed variation in Fbg and AT release.
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