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[B. Cell Biology/Stem Cell] B-34

Alginate Encapsulation of 3D spheroid Mesenchymal Stem

Cell for Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Junhyeung Park¹, Tiep Nguyen¹, Jee-Heon Jeong¹*

¹pharmacy, yeungnam university, gyeonsan-si 38541, Korea

Background Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy offers a promise for the given conditions. Still, low cell
retention and survival rate at the diseased site hinder this cellular therapy. Therefore, this study was aimed at

developing a robust method of alginate encapsulation of MSC spheroids, namely “Surface triggering in situ gelation
(STIG)”, for the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We hypothesized that alginate-encapsulated

MSC spheroids would allow improved cell retention time and prolong their therapeutic efficacy. Methodology
Alginate encapsulation of spheroids was performed following our established protocol. Briefly, spheroids fabricated

using AggrewellTM were mixed with a suspension of polydopamine coated calcium carbonate microspheres (PD-
CaCO3-MS). The conjugated spheroids were incubated with the solution of alginate and D-(+)-gluconic acid-δ-

lactone to allow spontaneous encapsulation of spheroids. For the treatment, encapsulated spheroids were injected
intraperitoneally to the murine chronic colitis model. Principal Findings The spheroids were effectively encapsulated

by alginate while maintaining high cell viability. In DSS-induced chronic colitis model, the encapsulated spheroids
exhibited better therapeutic effects than naked spheroids, as evidenced by improved histological sign and reduced

DAI. Conclusion Our method of alginate encapsulation of spheroids may offer a promise to enhance MSC
functionality for effective treatment of IBD and other diseases.