Multifunctional Microdevices For Cell Entrapment
A new approach for the integrated immunoprotection of transplanted cells is investigated, irrespective of the cell origin and maturation level. Microcapsules and microfibers, based on cross-linked polysaccharides coated with cationic polymers are produced. The devices contain multiple compartments that can interact with the encapsulated cell. By this approach, the ‘‘cell compartment’’ benefits from a ‘‘chemical/pharmacologic agent compartment’’ constituted of a sustained release formulation able to deliver the included biological response modifiers for long periods of time.
Goals
Production of encapsulated cells for cell transplantation and tissue engineering applications.
Instruments and Methods
In vitro cell culture, stem cell isolation and characterization, microdevice fabrication, polymer purification and processing, factorial design.
Main Subjects
Pharmaceutics; Material Science; Bioengineering.
Research Group
- Claudio Nastruzzi
- Elisabetta Esposito
- Rita Cortesi
Collaborations
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale (Università di Perugia)
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologie Chimique (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne)
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Chirurgico Specialistiche (Università di Ferrara)
- Department of Anatomy (University of South Florida)
- Department of Materials (ETH, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich)
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Trinity College Dublin)
- Translational Research & Microfluidics (Université Paris Descartes, Paris)
- Bioengineering Sciences and Electromechanical Engineering research groups (University of Southampton)
