FURI | Spring 2022
Viability and Metabolic Function of INS-1E Cells in Synthetic PEG Hydrogels Suitable to Injection Molding Biofabrication
Pancreatic islet encapsulation has the potential to reverse Type 1 diabetes by protecting transplanted beta cells from immune-cell destruction while allowing passive diffusion of nutrients through a synthetic non-degradable hydrogel barrier. Strain promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition (SPAAC) reactions, also called copper-free click chemistry, occur at biological pH and temperature, lack cytotoxic catalysts, and have tunable gelation speeds ranging from 1 to 15 minutes. This research tests the viability and metabolic function of INS-1E cells encapsulated in SPAAC-functionalized PEG hydrogels compared to thiol-maleimide hydrogels, as the slower gelation speed of SPAAC hydrogels are advantageous in generating complex encapsulation geometries that optimize cell viability.
Student researcher
Simone Breanna Gohsman
Biomedical engineering
Hometown: Mesa, Arizona, United States
Graduation date: Spring 2023