Immobilisation of Cells in Biocompatible Films to Cell Therapy

Abstract

In this work a new system for immobilisation of cells was developed based on biocompatible alginate barium- films. Films are prepared to allow better control over film thickness and produce better film uniformity, avoiding rough- ness over film surface that can produce fibrosis and rejection after transplantation. In this study monocyte, mononuclear and fibroblast cell lines were immobilised in micrometric (� 300 microns of thick- ness) barium alginate films. The system was able to maintain the cell viability of all the three types of cells for at least two weeks after immobilisation, but cell proliferation was only verified for the monocyte and fibroblast cell lines.