Microgel Assembly

DATE CREATED: 18 Dec 2008

ACTION PLAN

PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED (PI) / OUTSIDE SKILL REQUIRED (OSR) / RESOLVED (R)

PAPER TITLE : Attachment of Cell-Laden Microgels Using Host-Guest Interactions

A) BACKGROUND: Establish Micro-sized hydrogel assembly by utilizing Host-Guest interaction between 'Adamantane' and 'beta-cyclodextrin'.

B) HYPOTHESIS

C) SPECIFIC AIMS

AIM 1 - Establish β-Cyclodextrin-Poly(ethyelene glycol)-Methacrylate and Adamantane-Poly(ethylene glycol)-Methacrylate synthesis. Verify the product with H1 NMR.

AIM 2 - Optimize β-Cyclodextrin-Poly(ethyelene glycol)-Methacrylate and Adamantane-Poly(ethylene glycol)-Methacrylate concentration for gel formation

AIM 3 - Assemble in water or in oil?

D) Materials and Methods

1. Materials : Monodeoxy-6-monoamino-β-Cyclodextrin (Sigma-Aldrich, Montana, USA); 1-Aminoadamantane Hydrochloride (University of TWENTE, Netherland); Acryoyl-PEG-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (Jenkem Technology, TX, USA).

2. β-Cyclodextrin-Poly(ethyelene glycol)-Methacrylate synthesis

3. Adamantane-Poly(ethylene glycol)-Methacrylate systhesis

4. Fabrication Micro-Sized Hydrogel Units by Photolithography

5. Three Dimensional Assembly of Micro-Sized Hydrogel Units Using Host-Guest Complexation

6. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy

7. Fabrication Cell-laden Micro-Sized Hydrogel Assemblies

E) DESIGN PITFALLS AND ALTERNATIVES

F) ANTICIPATED FIGURES FOR PAPER

Figure 1. Phase contrast images of collections of microgels in various shapes.

Figure 2. Production of (1) ADA-PEG-Acrylate and β-CD-PEG-Acrylate.

Figure 3. FT-IR and 1H NMR spectra of (1) ADA-PEG-Acrylate and β-CD-PEG-Acrylate.

Figure 4. Schematic illustration of Micro-Sized Hydrogel Fabrication Process

Figure 5. Parameters influencing the microgel assembly.

Figure 6. The effect of the microgel aspect ratio on assembly composition.

Figure 7. Schematic illustration of the structure of the inclusion complex-based assembly between β-CD-PEG polymer and ADA-PEG polymer.

Figure 8. Phase contrast and fluorescence images of Fibroblasts cultured in microgels.

Figure 9. Directed assembly of 3-D lock-and-key-shaped microgels.

G) FUTURE DIRECTIONS