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Thermoresponsive magnetic colloidal gels via surface-initiated polymerisation from functional microparticles

Braim, S. A.; Shakesheff, Kevin M.; Saunders, Brian R; Alexander, Cameron

Authors

S. A. Braim

Kevin M. Shakesheff

Brian R Saunders



Abstract

Novel magnetothermally responsive core-shell microparticles have been synthesized. The aqueous suspensions of these particles exhibit fast thermoreversible fluid-to-gel transitions and retain good magnetic properties. Rheological measurements demonstrated that the viscoelasticity of the prepared particle gels can be tuned, enabling these gels to have the mechanical properties that should facilitate their applications as 3D cell scaffolds for in vitro expansion of cells. Also, it was found that the responsive particles could be used in repeated heating-cooling cycles without marked changes in gel elasticity. Presto Blue viability assays of 3T3 fibroblasts and human mesenchymal sem cells cultured within the colloidal gel showed that the cells remained viable and proliferated, with significant increases in cell numbers over extended culture times. Confocal microscopy images of 3T3 cells cultured within the colloidal gel demonstrated that cells adhered, spread and retained their normal morphologies during proliferation.. Furthermore, magnetic separation allowed efficient recovery of cells after their expansion in vitro without need for enzyme-mediated release steps. Trypsin-free cell passages were performed allowing multiple growth, separation and reloading of cells within the colloidal gels. Overall, the results suggest this colloidal gel has potential as a 3D scaffold for in vitro expansion of a variety of cell types and for enzyme free cell harvesting.

Citation

Braim, S. A., Shakesheff, K. M., Saunders, B. R., & Alexander, C. (2016). Thermoresponsive magnetic colloidal gels via surface-initiated polymerisation from functional microparticles. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 4(5), https://doi.org/10.1039/c5tb01739d

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 1, 2015
Online Publication Date Dec 8, 2015
Publication Date Feb 7, 2016
Deposit Date Jul 18, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Materials Chemistry B
Print ISSN 2050-750X
Electronic ISSN 2050-750X
Publisher Royal Society of Chemistry
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 4
Issue 5
DOI https://doi.org/10.1039/c5tb01739d
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/776841
Publisher URL http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2016/TB/C5TB01739D#!divAbstract