In this paper, we introduce a new continuous production technique of calcium alginate fibers with a microfluidic platform similar to a spider in nature. We have used a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic device embedded capillary glass pipet as the apparatus for fiber generation. As a sample flow, we introduced a sodium alginate solution, and, as a sheath flow, a CaCl2 solution was introduced. The coaxial flows were generated at the intersection of both flows, and the sodium alginate was solidified to calcium alginate by diffusion of the Ca2+ ions during traveling through the outlet pipet. The diameter changes in the sample and sheath flow variations were examined, and the size of alginate fibers was well regulated by changing both flow rates. In addition, we have measured the elasticity of dried fibers. We evaluated the potential use of alginate fibers as a cell carrier by loading human fibroblasts during the "on the fly" fabrication process. From the LIVE/DEAD assay, cells survived well during the fiber fabrication process. In addition, we evaluate the capability of loading the therapeutic materials onto the alginate fibers by immobilized bovine serum albumin-fluorescein isothiocyanate in the fibers.

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BACKGROUND:Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess the potential for differentiation into multilineages.

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In comparison with the right vocal folds, there was significantly less granulation tissue in the hADSCs-injected left vocal folds (p < 0.05). Histological examination revealed excessive collagen deposition and perichondral fibrosis in the right vocal folds, whereas the left vocal folds exhibited better wound healing and less collagen deposition (p < 0.05). Among the 12 specimens injected with hADSCs, 4 specimens demonstrated viable hADSCs under immunofluorescent cytochemistry.

Hyperthermia, the procedure of raising the temperature of tumor-loaded tissue to 40 degrees -43 degrees C, has been applied to various established cancer treatments. Although the mechanism of hyperthermia in cancer treatment is well-known, there are few or no studies regarding the effect of hyperthermia on the tumor-supportive stroma. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) display the potential for differentiation into various tissues. MSCs are also reported to play a role as potential precursors for tumor stroma in providing a favorable environment for tumor progression. Here, we investigated the effects of hyperthermia-treated MSCs on the viability and growth of cancer cells. Culture supernatants from non-shocked or heat-shocked MSCs (NS-MSCs or HS-MSCs) were added to MCF7 cells. Morphological analysis and cell proliferation assay showed the reduced viability and growth of MCF7 cells by addition of culture medium conditioned by HS-MSCs. Additionally, exposure to the conditioned medium by HS-MSCs induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, increased MHC class I, Fas receptor, and TNF-R expressions, and decreased MDR1 expression in the MCF7 cells. In particular, the conditioned medium of HS-MSCs accelerated the inhibition of tumor cell growth by several chemotherapeutic drugs. These data present new aspects of hyperthermia in cancer treatment, suggesting that hyperthermia can enable tumor stroma provide a sensitizing environment for tumor cells to undergo cell death.

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