Dalle P., Morales S., Berthier J., Benhamou P-Y., Bellemin Comte A., Boizot F., Costa G., Rivera F.
CEA-LETI, FR
Keywords: alginate, automation, encapsulation, microfluidic, pancreatic islet, phase transfer
Implantation of Langerhans islet in alginate shell is an alternative for the treatment of diabetes type 1. Finding an adapted process for cell encapsulation is a challenge. The process must product spherical and monodisperse capsules in a limited time with a good reproducibility. Up to now conventional systems are mainly manual which induces batch disparities and do not provide repeatable clinical results. In this paper, we report a novel microfluidic device coupling a production of alginate droplets in an oil flow and a phase transfer module, that automatically transfers the capsules in an aqueous phase. This module allows a 100% extraction of alginate capsule from the oil phase to a calcium gelling solution. Gelled spherical capsules are directly retrieved in an aqueous phase. The entire process is done at physiological pH without any surfactant.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Nanotechnology 2012: Electronics, Devices, Fabrication, MEMS, Fluidics and Computational (Volume 2)
Published: June 18, 2012
Pages: 298 - 301
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topic: Micro & Bio Fluidics, Lab-on-Chip
ISBN: 978-1-4665-6275-2