Bespoke microgels for bioassays, food & cosmetics

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

Hydrogels are a class of material that is gaining great attention in the the field of biotechnology, food & cosmetics. These materials consist primarily of water (>90%) and mimic the properties of the biologic material we find in between the cells in our body, called the extracellular matrix (ECM). Scientists globally are therefore looking for ways to use hydrogels in the laboratory to recreate the native environment of living cells. Doing so allows them to grow and study cells in realistic conditions, which serves as a foundation to understand diseases like cancer and develop novel therapeutics based on biological molecules. Other than that, small hydrogel particles can be used as vehicles to transport and deliver sensitive ingredients such as probiotic bacteria or enzymes in food or cosmetics. While encapsulated in the hydrogel, the active agents are protected from degradation. Once at the target (for example the intestine), the cargo is released and can fulfil its function. To control the release of encapsulated active ingredients and provide predictable environments for cell-based assays and therapies, it is important to be finely control the shape and size of the hydrogel structures on the micro scale. Traditionally, the formation of hydrogel microstructures has been very difficult and typically employs harsh chemistries that kill cells and damage biomolecules like enzymes. The innovative CLEX technology overcomes this limitation and enables the formation of hydrogel structures as small as the diameter of a human hair without compromising even the most sensitive living cells. This project utilises the unique properties of the CLEX technology and combines it with advanced biotech hardware to produce new tools for cell analysis and encapsulation of biological additives for food & cosmetics applications in a controllable and economic way.