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Encapsulation of Cells in Alginate Gels

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Book cover Immobilization of Enzymes and Cells

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1051))

Abstract

Cell microencapsulation is based on the immobilization of cells for continuous release of therapeutics. This approach has been tested in the treatment of many diseases and several clinical trials have been performed. Factors such as the choice of cells to be encapsulated, the biomaterial used, and the procedure for carrying out the capsules are important issues when implementing this technology.

This book chapter makes a comprehensive description of alginate, the most frequently employed biomaterial, passing by its structure, the extraction and treatment, and finishing with the process of gelation. It also describes the various modifications that can be carried out to allow the interaction between the alginate and the integrin receptors of encapsulated cells. The main microencapsulation technologies are presented as well as how 100 μm alginate–Poly-l-Lysine–alginate microcapsules can be fabricated with Flow-focusing technology.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

    Pello Sánchez

  2. Networking Biomedical Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

    Pello Sánchez

  3. NanoBioCel Group, Laboratory of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

    Rosa María Hernández, José Luis Pedraz & Gorka Orive

Authors
  1. Pello Sánchez
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  2. Rosa María Hernández
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  3. José Luis Pedraz
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  4. Gorka Orive
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Catlisis y Petroleoquimica, CSIC, Madrid, Spain

    Jose M. Guisan

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Sánchez, P., Hernández, R.M., Pedraz, J.L., Orive, G. (2013). Encapsulation of Cells in Alginate Gels. In: Guisan, J. (eds) Immobilization of Enzymes and Cells. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1051. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-550-7_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-550-7_21

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-549-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-550-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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