Insights in Behavior of Variably Formulated Alginate-Based Microcapsules for Cell Transplantation

Figure 1

Microcapsules’ integrity and morphological evaluation. (a) Microcapsules 24 hours after gelification with 100 mM CaCl₂, 50 mM BaCl₂·2H₂O, 50 mM CaCl₂, and 25 mM BaCl₂·2H₂O, or 100 mM SrCl₂·6H₂O in 0.9% NaCl. All types of microcapsules show a spherical and smooth shape and are homogeneous in diameters’ size for each type of counterion used. (b) Microcapsules retrieved from Nod/Scid mice after 40 days from transplantation retained their physical-chemical parameters, with no change in terms of morphology. (c) Microcapsules retrieved from CD1 mice after 40 days from transplantation and 6 days with LPS: they appear undamaged and free from any inflammatory response with no macrophage growth outside the membrane.