Generation of Cell-laden Biopolymer Microgels with Tunable Mechanical Properties for Cancer Cell Studies

• Main Author: Kumachev, Alexander
• Other Authors: Walker, Gilbert C.
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Biopolymer; Cancer Cell; Cellular Microenvironment; Microfluidics; Atomic Force Microscopy; Elastic Modulus; Mechanical Properties; 0495
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/33278

This thesis describes the development of a high-throughput approach towards the encapsulation of cancer cells in biopolymer microgels with tunable mechanical properties. In particular, this thesis is focused on: i) the high-throughput generation of biopolymer microgels with tunable mechanical properties ii) the measurement of the mechanical properties of the microgels, and iii) the high-throughput encapsulation of a cancer cell line within biopolymer gels. The microgels will be generated by (i) introducing in a microfluidic device two distinct streams of biopolymer solutions; (ii) mixing the streams; (iii) emulsifying the biopolymer and (iv) using thermosetting to transform the droplets in situ into microgels. By applying a compression force to the hydrogel microbead and measuring its deformation, the Young’s modulus and relaxation time of the microgel can be examined. The properties of cells were examined within the gels using various spectroscopic techniques such as absorption (UV-Vis) and fluorescence microscopy (fluorescent microscopy, confocal microscopy).