Cells may affect the radical polymerization mechanism during the cell encapsulation process that is used to make tissue engineering scaffolds

     One method for creating tissue engineering scaffolds is to cure a pre-polymer solution containing live cells in a process known as cell encapsulation. This creates a polymeric gel containing cells that can support tissue formation in vitro . However, the presence of cells during the curing process may inhibit the radical polymerization mechanism and, thus, affect the final polymer structure. Any effects in the scaffold structure could in turn affect the tissue formation within the scaffold.

     My project is focused on determining whether or not cells present during radical polymerization are capable of affecting the end structure of the polymer and, if so, whether this affects the tissue growth within the finished scaffold during culture.

Figure 1. The diagrams above depict the monomer solution with no particles present (A), with non-reactive particles (B), and with cells that exhibit a boundary layer in which all radicals are terminated (C) and the resulting polymerization kinetics profiles of conversion versus time for each situation. The grid in (A) indicates the formation of a homogenous polymer matrix and its kinetic profile. The presence of non-reactive particles (B) produces a similar kinetic profile. The presence of cells, however, delays the onset of polymerization (inhibition) and slows the kinetic rate (retardation) if the cells inhibit polymerization in the region surrounding them (C).