Abstract
Tissue engineering is focusing on processing tissue micro-structures for a variety of applications in cell biology and the “bottom-up” construction of artificial tissue. Over the last decade, microfluidic devices have provided novel tools for producing alginate hydrogel microfibers with various morphologies, structures, and compositions for cell cultivation. Moreover, microfluidic spun alginate microfibers are long, thin, and flexible, and these features facilitate higher-order assemblies for fabricating macroscopic cellular structures. In this paper, we present an overview of the microfluidic spinning principle of alginate hydrogel microfibers and their application as micro-scaffolds or scaffolding elements for 3D assembly in tissue engineering.
Highlights
Organ transplantation is a well-established therapy for patients suffering from organs failure or damage; the long donors-waiting process causes the death of a number of patients, because the source of human organs is extremely limited [1]
A variety of hierarchical scaffolds with controlled morphology and porosity have been engineered by various micro/nanoscaffolds, including polyethylene glycol (PEG) blocks, microdroplets, and micro/nanofibers et al [5,6,7]
Compared with a high DC voltage for spinning nanofibers, microfluidic spinning based on microchannels processed by micro-electromechanical system (MEMs) technology can provide a milder spinning condition, and some unique characters are simultaneously involved in the fabricated microfibers, including cell encapsulation; the spatiotemporal control of microfiber the shape, size, and composition; and manipulation for the single microfiber [11]
Summary
Organ transplantation is a well-established therapy for patients suffering from organs failure or damage; the long donors-waiting process causes the death of a number of patients, because the source of human organs is extremely limited [1]. A variety of hierarchical scaffolds with controlled morphology and porosity have been engineered by various micro/nanoscaffolds, including polyethylene glycol (PEG) blocks, microdroplets, and micro/nanofibers et al [5,6,7] Among these hierarchical scaffolds, fabricating fibrous structures is one promising component, since micro/nanomicrofibers as scaffolding elements enable the engineered scaffolds to provide physical, chemical, and biological cues to regulate cellular behaviors [8,9]. Compared with a high DC voltage for spinning nanofibers, microfluidic spinning based on microchannels processed by micro-electromechanical system (MEMs) technology can provide a milder spinning condition, and some unique characters are simultaneously involved in the fabricated microfibers, including cell encapsulation; the spatiotemporal control of microfiber the shape, size, and composition; and manipulation for the single microfiber [11]. Microfluidic-spun alginate microfibers are a promising micro-scaffold with great application potential in tissue engineering
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