GelMA Core–Shell Microgel Preparation Based on a Droplet Microfluidic Device for Three-Dimensional Tumor Ball Culture and Its Drug Testing
Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) microgels serve as promising bioscaffolds for tissue engineering and drug screening. However, conventional solid GelMA microgels often exhibit limited mass transfer efficiency and provide insufficient protection for embedded cells. In this study, we developed a droplet-b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3305 |
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| author | Xindong Yang Yi Xu Dongchen Zhu Xianqiang Mi |
| author_facet | Xindong Yang Yi Xu Dongchen Zhu Xianqiang Mi |
| author_sort | Xindong Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) microgels serve as promising bioscaffolds for tissue engineering and drug screening. However, conventional solid GelMA microgels often exhibit limited mass transfer efficiency and provide insufficient protection for embedded cells. In this study, we developed a droplet-based microfluidic platform to fabricate core–shell structured GelMA microgels. This system enabled precise control over microgel size and core-to-shell ratio by modulating flow rates. Encapsulation of A549 cells within these core–shell microgels preserved cellular viability and facilitated the formation of three-dimensional tumor spheroids. These outcomes confirmed both the protective function of the core–shell architecture during encapsulation and the overall biocompatibility of the microgels. The developed GelMA core–shell microgel system presents considerable applicability in research domains such as organoid modeling and high-throughput pharmacological screening. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2f1068d6c26440f39b8f6fa7780796da |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-2f1068d6c26440f39b8f6fa7780796da2025-08-20T04:00:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-08-013015330510.3390/molecules30153305GelMA Core–Shell Microgel Preparation Based on a Droplet Microfluidic Device for Three-Dimensional Tumor Ball Culture and Its Drug TestingXindong Yang0Yi Xu1Dongchen Zhu2Xianqiang Mi3School of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaShanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, ChinaShanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, ChinaSchool of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, ChinaGelatin methacrylate (GelMA) microgels serve as promising bioscaffolds for tissue engineering and drug screening. However, conventional solid GelMA microgels often exhibit limited mass transfer efficiency and provide insufficient protection for embedded cells. In this study, we developed a droplet-based microfluidic platform to fabricate core–shell structured GelMA microgels. This system enabled precise control over microgel size and core-to-shell ratio by modulating flow rates. Encapsulation of A549 cells within these core–shell microgels preserved cellular viability and facilitated the formation of three-dimensional tumor spheroids. These outcomes confirmed both the protective function of the core–shell architecture during encapsulation and the overall biocompatibility of the microgels. The developed GelMA core–shell microgel system presents considerable applicability in research domains such as organoid modeling and high-throughput pharmacological screening.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3305droplet microfluidicGelMAcore–shell microgel3D cell culturedrug testing |
| spellingShingle | Xindong Yang Yi Xu Dongchen Zhu Xianqiang Mi GelMA Core–Shell Microgel Preparation Based on a Droplet Microfluidic Device for Three-Dimensional Tumor Ball Culture and Its Drug Testing Molecules droplet microfluidic GelMA core–shell microgel 3D cell culture drug testing |
| title | GelMA Core–Shell Microgel Preparation Based on a Droplet Microfluidic Device for Three-Dimensional Tumor Ball Culture and Its Drug Testing |
| title_full | GelMA Core–Shell Microgel Preparation Based on a Droplet Microfluidic Device for Three-Dimensional Tumor Ball Culture and Its Drug Testing |
| title_fullStr | GelMA Core–Shell Microgel Preparation Based on a Droplet Microfluidic Device for Three-Dimensional Tumor Ball Culture and Its Drug Testing |
| title_full_unstemmed | GelMA Core–Shell Microgel Preparation Based on a Droplet Microfluidic Device for Three-Dimensional Tumor Ball Culture and Its Drug Testing |
| title_short | GelMA Core–Shell Microgel Preparation Based on a Droplet Microfluidic Device for Three-Dimensional Tumor Ball Culture and Its Drug Testing |
| title_sort | gelma core shell microgel preparation based on a droplet microfluidic device for three dimensional tumor ball culture and its drug testing |
| topic | droplet microfluidic GelMA core–shell microgel 3D cell culture drug testing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/15/3305 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xindongyang gelmacoreshellmicrogelpreparationbasedonadropletmicrofluidicdeviceforthreedimensionaltumorballcultureanditsdrugtesting AT yixu gelmacoreshellmicrogelpreparationbasedonadropletmicrofluidicdeviceforthreedimensionaltumorballcultureanditsdrugtesting AT dongchenzhu gelmacoreshellmicrogelpreparationbasedonadropletmicrofluidicdeviceforthreedimensionaltumorballcultureanditsdrugtesting AT xianqiangmi gelmacoreshellmicrogelpreparationbasedonadropletmicrofluidicdeviceforthreedimensionaltumorballcultureanditsdrugtesting |