Cell delivery with genipin crosslinked gelatin microspheres in hydrogel/microcarrier composite

Tissue engineering using injectable cellular constructs such as hydrogel is an emerging field in regenerative medicine. Common non-adhesive hydrogels have the advantages of biocompatibility and injectability but modest cell settlement and viability due to its hydrophilic nature which makes it a challenge for effective and sustainable applications in cell-based therapies. Recently, a hydrogel/microcarrier (GC) model has been developed to provide cells with ‘anchors’ to support cell adhesion within the hydrogel bulk. However, complex fabrications steps and minimal bio-degradability of the microcarrier have limited the spatial growth of the cells. This study aims to overcome challenges of the current GC model through the use of bio-degradable and bio-adhesive gelatin microspheres stabilized with natural crosslinking agent, genipin. This genipin crosslinked microcarrier is capable of maintaining high viability and the stretched morphology of the cells when encapsulated in the hydrogel bulk. This suggests that the microcarrier developed is suitable for GC composite model and has potential applications in biomedical applications.