Microgel particles for use in 3D printing and 3D cell growth medium and related compositions, systems, and methods
Microgel particles for use in a three-dimensional cell growth medium are described. The microgel particles may be swellable and may have properties conducive to improved function and health of cells distributed within the three-dimensional cell growth medium. Related compositions, systems, and methods are also described. Also provided is a plurality of microgel particles and a liquid cell culture medium, wherein the microgel particles are swelled with the liquid cell culture medium to form a granular gel. Also provided is a method of preparing a three-dimensional cell growth medium is disclosed. The method may comprise: mixing a plurality of microgel particles, such as those described above, in a liquid cell culture medium. Also provided is a method of placing cells in a three-dimensional cell growth medium is disclosed. Also provided is a method of synthesizing a protein is disclosed.
1 . A three-dimensional cell growth medium, the three-dimensional cell growth medium consisting of:
a plurality of microgel particles, wherein each of the plurality of microgel particles consists of a crosslinked polymeric network, and wherein the crosslinked polymeric network consists of:
low charge density polymer molecules, wherein each of the low charge density polymer molecules consists of a first set of neutral monomer units derived from acrylamide and a second set of charged monomer units derived from methacrylic acid, wherein an average spacing between the charged monomer units is greater than the Bjerrum length; and
a crosslinker;
wherein a molar ratio of the first monomer to the crosslinker present in the solution is between 20:1 and 200:1; and
a liquid cell culture medium, wherein the plurality of microgel particles swell with the liquid cell culture medium to form a three-dimensional granular gel; and
wherein the three-dimensional cell growth medium is a yield stress material.
2 . The three-dimensional cell growth medium of claim 1 , wherein the charged groups are negatively charged groups.
3 . The three-dimensional cell growth medium of claim 1 , wherein less than 60% of the sum of the first and second sets of monomer units are second monomer units.
4 . The three-dimensional cell growth medium of claim 1 , wherein less than 20% of the sum of the first and second sets of monomer units are second monomer units.
5 . The three-dimensional cell growth medium of claim 1 , wherein the crosslinker has an average molecular weight of between 250 g/mol and 10,000 g/mol.
6 . The three-dimensional cell growth medium of claim 1 , wherein the crosslinker is selected from poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) or N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA).
7 . The three-dimensional cell growth medium of claim 1 , wherein the crosslinker is hydrophilic.