![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
Abstract
Controlling growth of cells enclosed in hollow-core microcapsules is an important issue for the practical use of the device in biomedical and biopharmaceutical fields. In this study, we developed hollow-core microcapsules with a cell-adhesive agarose–gelatin conjugate (Aga–Ge) gel membrane for enhancement of adherent cell growth. We enclosed adherent feline kidney cells in these microcapsules and compared their growth profile and behavior with cells in microcapsules with an unmodified agarose membrane. The cells grew approx. 2-fold faster in microcapsules with the Aga–Ge membrane than in those with the unmodified agarose membrane. Fluorescence observation of the cellular skeleton clearly revealed that the enclosed cells adhered and spread on the inner surface of the Aga–Ge membrane but not on the unmodified agarose membrane. The maximum cell densities estimated on the basis of the cellular mitochondrial activities were independent of the cellular adhesiveness of the membrane. The mitochondrial activities per vehicle were similar for the two types of microcapsules. These results demonstrate that construction of microcapsule membranes from cell-adhesive materials is effective for enhancing cellular growth in these devices.
