Rapid formation of spheroids in double-emulsion droplets

What is it about?

Multicellular MSC spheroids can be generated in microfluidics double-emulsion droplets within a very short time. The spheroids display good viability, ECM composition and ability to be differentiated with high efficiency. The microenvironment around the spheroids can be tuned with the addition of matrix phase, such as alginate and alginate-RGD, the latter case of which results in enhanced differentiation towards the osteogenic lineage.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The current work demonstrates for the first time a high-throughput yet miniaturized spheroid generation system that can produce spheroids within 3 hours, whereas the other methods usually require a day or more. The tunable microenvironment allows the generation of spheroids-encapsulated microgels, which can prove useful in cell therapy requiring injection or be adopted for 3D printing to create complex functional tissues.