Proper vascularization remains critical to the clinical application of engineered tissues. To engineer microvessels in vitro, we and others have delivered endothelial cells through preformed channels into patterned extracellular matrix-based gels. This approach has been limited by the size of endothelial cells in suspension, and results in plugging of channels below ~30 μm in diameter. Here, we...

Slurries of whey protein concentrate (WPC) or sodium caseinate (Na-CN) mixed with sucrose (36% T.S.) were subjected to microparticulation by a high shear homogenizer operated at 27,000 rpm for 2, 4, and 6 min to facilitate gel formation. After microparticulation treatment, the milk protein and sucrose slurries were evaporated at 85 degrees C for 60 min under a partial vacuum (20 to 45 mm of Hg)...

This article discusses recent attempts to provide a deeper understanding of the thermoreversible ”gel” state of colloidal matter and to unravel the analogies between gels at the colloidal level and gels at the molecular level, commonly known as network-forming strong liquids. The connection between gel-forming patchy colloids and strong liquids is provided by the limited valence of the inter-pa...

We have developed an approach to prepare drug-releasing Tetra-PEG hydrogels with exactly four cross-links per monomer. The gels contain two cleavable β-eliminative linkers: one for drug attachment that releases the drug at a predictable rate, and one with a longer half-life placed in each cross-link to control biodegradation. Thus, the system can be optimized to release the drug before signific...

The formation and properties of alginate fluid gels produced using in-situ calcium release and a defined shear field are investigated. Results show that, while the rate of particle growth during formation increases significantly upon lowering the shear rate, the rate of inter-particle interaction post-production remains unaffected by the

We discuss features of simple inter-particle potentials which are able to generate low-packing fraction arrested states, i.e. gels, in the absence of a macroscopic phase separation phenomenon. We suggest that the ratio between surface and bulk free energy is crucial in favoring ideal gel states. Two possible models for gels, one based on the competition of short range attraction and long range ...

In this study, the mobility of nanoparticles in mucus and similar hydrogels as model systems was assessed to elucidate the link between microscopic diffusion behavior and macroscopic penetration of such gels. Differences in particle adhesion to mucus components were strongly dependent on particle coating. Particles coated with 2 kDa PEG exhibited a decreased adhesion to mucus components, wherea...