PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION

2025

Injectable, Cryopreservable Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Loaded Microbeads for Pro-Angiogenic Therapy: In Vitro Proof-of-Concept

Touani FK, Hamouda I, et al.

Biomedical Materials

École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), McGill University, Université de Montréal, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM)

Canada

RESEARCH SUMMARY

This study demonstrates an injectable and cryopreservable hydrogel microbead system encapsulating human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) for pro-angiogenic therapy. Using stirred emulsification, microbeads composed of chitosan (CH), chitosan–gelatin (CH–Gel), and alginate (ALG) were produced with controlled size (~500 μm diameter). CH–Gel microbeads showed superior viability (80%), higher vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion (11× vs ALG), and maintained mechanical integrity after cryopreservation. Celastrol preconditioning further enhanced cell viability and proangiogenic function. The system enables a scalable, oil-based process to generate injectable microbeads suitable for minimally invasive, off-the-shelf cell therapies.

Mechanical properties of the CH–, CH–Gel, and ALG-based microbeads were assessed using a CellScale MicroSquisher. Microbeads were compressed to 80% strain with 60 s loading, 20 s hold, and 60 s recovery phases. CH-based microbeads exhibited ductile deformation without rupture, unlike alginate beads that fractured before 40% strain. Cryopreserved CH–Gel microbeads preserved mechanical stiffness and compressive strength comparable to fresh samples, confirming the MicroSquisher’s role in validating microbead resilience for clinical injection and cryostorage applications.

AUTHORS

Francesco K. Touani, Inès Hamouda, Nicolas Noiseux, Corinne Hoesli, Shant Der Sarkissian, Sophie Lerouge.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Biomedical Materials

YEAR

2025

INSTITUTIONS

École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), McGill University, Université de Montréal, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM)

COUNTRIES

Canada

INSTRUMENT USED

MicroSquisher

TESTING METHODS

Compression TestingHydrated and Temperature Controlled TestingMicro-Mechanical Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

Cell Laden HydrogelsDrug Screening & Drug Delivery MechanicsHydrogel Mechanical TestingInjectable & Regenerative BiomaterialsMicrotissue and Spheroid MechanicsStem Cell MechanobiologyVascular Tissue Engineering & Mechanics

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