Fabrication of cell-enclosed polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin derivative microfiber through flow focusing microfluidic system.

Hydrogel fibers are structurally and biologically useful constructs for cell/drug encapsulation as well as fabrication of filament-like tissues. We established cell-laden poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) based hydrogel microfibers through flow focusing microfluidic system and enzymatic crosslinking with desirable cell viability and growth ability. Human adipose stem cell (ADSC)-laden fibers were fabricated by crosslinking phenolic-substituted PVA and gelatin in an aqueous solution containing cells. The crosslinking of phenolic moieties was mediated by horseradish peroxidase reaction and hydrogen peroxide as an electron donor. We have attempted to optimize hydrogel fabrication parameters to obtained microfiber in proper geometries and dimensions. The producing PVA/Gelatin microfibers could be rolled and produced bundled filament-like structure. The physical characteristics of produced microfibers were evaluated. The hybrid PVA/Gelatin microfiber is shown 0.18 swelling ratio which was lower than PVA sample. While, the tensile strength and elongation of PVA/Gelatin derivative significantly upregulated and demonstrated 413 kPa tensile strength and 4.1 times elongation. The encapsulated ADSCs proliferated and grew within hydrogel microfibers and formed filament-like cellular constructs in single and bundled constructs. These results demonstrate the feasibility of PVA-based hydrogel fibers obtained through flow focusing microfluidic system and HRP-mediated crosslinking reaction for the engineering of filament-like tissues. [Display omitted] • Poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) based hydrogel microfibers fabricated through flow focusing microfluidic system. • PVA-based microfibers possessed proper geometries and dimensions in optimum operational condition. • Mechanical properties of PVA/Gelatin significantly improved and demonstrated higher tensile strength and elongation. • Encapsulated cells grew and proliferated within PVA/Gelatin hydrogel microfibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]