writer：Jianjun Gu, Yening Zhao, Ying Guan, and Yongjun Zhang*
keywords：microgel
source：期刊
specific source：Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 2015, 136, 1139-1147
Issue time：2015年
The in situ-forming colloidal hydrogels from the thermal gelation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgel dispersions have been exploited for 3D cell culture. The properties of the hydrogel scaffold need to be tuned to further improve its performance. In addition, cellular uptake of the microgel particles need to be reduced to avoid their potential undesired influence. For these purposes we systematically examined the effect of microgel particle size on the hydrogel scaffold. It was found that gel properties could be tuned via changing particle size. Increasing particle size reduces the gel strength and its syneresis degree, both of which are favorable for cell growth. Meanwhile increasing particle size could also reduce significantly the cellular uptake of the microgel particles. Microgel with a size of ～162 nm shows the highest cellular uptake, beyond which cellular uptake decreases with increasing particle size. Hydrogel scaffold from 300 nm microgel, with suitable physical properties and reduced cellular uptake, were successfully used for multicellular spheroid generation.
【關鍵詞】：Microgels; Colloidal hydrogels; Cellular uptake; 3D cell culture; Multicellular spheroids