FURI | Spring 2021

Cell Viability of Insulin-Producing Cells After Injection Into Complex Hydrogel Shapes in Macroencapsulation Device

This project investigates an injection molding device for complex hydrogel geometries to macroencapsulate donor islet cells. The injection process requires that cells be mixed with hydrogel and injected into the mold, and therefore are under shear stress and potentially hypoxic conditions during the injection process. To test for cell viability, insulin producing cells were cultured and mixed with alginate hydrogel. They were then live/dead stained and imaged using a confocal microscope. Through this imaging it was found that insulin producing cells remained viable after injection at time point zero and 48 hours.