Characterization of Polyethylene Glycol-Reinforced Alginate Microcapsules for Mechanically Stable Cell Immunoisolation.

ABSTRACT: Islet transplantation within mechanically stable microcapsules offers the promise of long-term diabetes reversal without chronic immunosuppression. Reinforcing the ionically gelled network of alginate (ALG) hydrogels with covalently linked polyethylene glycol (PEG) may create hybrid structures with desirable mechanical properties. This report describes the fabrication of hybrid PEG-ALG interpenetrating polymer networks and the investigation of microcapsule swelling, surface modulus, rheology, compression, and permeability. It is demonstrated that hybrid networks are more resistant to bulk swelling and compressive deformation and display improved shape recovery and long-term resilience. Interestingly, it is shown that PEG-ALG networks behave like ALG during microscale surface deformation an

SUBMITTER: Verheyen CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6953757 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature