Abstract
An interfacial precipitation process to encapsulate mammalian cells in hydroxyethyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate (HEMA-MMA) microcapsules of approximately 750 in approximately m diameter was previously described. It was not possible to produce smaller capsules due to low shearing force. A new droplet generation scheme was developed by suspending the cell and polymer co-extrusion nozzle in a uniform co-axial fluid jet which enabled the production of 300 to 600-microm diameter capsules. HepG2 hepatoma cells in 400-microm-diameter HEMA-MMA capsules were able to retain their metabolic activity during and after the encapsulation process. The in vitro secretion of plasma proteins alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, and fibrinogen by the encapsulated cells was retained. The encapsulated cells secreted less fibrinogen (340 kD) relative to alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (42kD), indicating the sieving effect (but not absolute cut-off) of the HEMA-MMA membrane. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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