Hollow polydimethylsiloxane beads with a porous structure for cell encapsulation

Based on a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion system, porous and hollow polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) beads containing cells using a simple fluidic device with three flow channels are fabricated. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in the PDMS oil phase is served as a porogen for pore development. The feasibility of the porous PDMS beads prepared with different PEG concentrations (10, 20, and 30 wt%) for cell encapsulation in terms of pore size, protein diffusion, and cell proliferation inside the PDMS beads is evaluated. The PDMS beads prepared with PEG 30 wt% are exhibited a highly porous structure and facilitated fast diffusion of protein from the core domain to the outer phase, eventually leading to enhanced cell proliferation. The results clearly indicate that hollow PDMS beads with a porous structure could provide a favorable microenvironment for cell survival due to the large porous structure. Porous polydimethylsiloxane beads are fabricated using a simple fluidic device with three flow channels for cell encapsulation. The cells encapsulated in the core domains of the porous PDMS beads are spread well and proliferated due to the sufficient provision of nutrients and oxygen through the porous wall. These porous PDMS beads can be used as cell carriers for cell implantation.