Mammalian Cell Encapsulation in Monodisperse Chitosan Beads Using Microchannel Emulsification

A CellScale MicroSquisher was used to quantify the compressive and viscoelastic mechanical properties of individual chitosan microbeads containing mesenchymal stromal cells. Using parallel-plate micro-compression, single beads were subjected to repeated loading–hold–recovery cycles up to 30% volumetric strain while recording force–displacement responses. These measurements enabled calculation of compressive modulus and assessment of viscoelastic behavior, demonstrating that microchannel-emulsified beads maintained mechanical integrity comparable to stirred-emulsion beads. The CellScale data were critical for confirming that improved injectability resulted from size uniformity rather than altered material stiffness, strengthening the study’s conclusions regarding translational suitability of the encapsulation process.