Abstract: Provided herein are methods utilizing microfluidics for the oxygen-controlled generation of microparticles and hydrogels having controlled microparticle sizes and size distributions and products from provided methods. The included methods provide the generation of microparticles by polymerizing an aqueous solution dispersed in a non-aqueous continuous phase in an oxygen-controlled environment. The process allows for control of size of the size of the aqueous droplets and, thus, control of the size of the generated microparticles which may be used in biological applications.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices for the generation of hydrogel particles with micrometer and submicrometer dimensions using oxygen-inhibited partial polymerization, and the particles generated therefrom. The described methods generate particles with dimensions independent of the starting polymerizable solution dimension, for example, a microdroplet. Further, microfluidic flow parameters (e.g. viscosity, flow rate) and photopolymerization process parameters (e.g. optical exposure intensity and duration) are controlled to generate particles with tunable crosslinking density-determined properties including elasticity, diffusivity, and biomolecular display for diverse applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering cell scaffolds, and single- and multiple-cell therapeutics. Similarly, gradients of crosslinking density-determined properties can be created within single particles through the selection of optical exposure intensity and duration.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to compositions comprising fibrin and to methods of forming such compositions. In an embodiment, a method of forming fibrin particles is provided. The method includes introducing a buffer, a fibrinogen solution, and a thrombin solution to a first end of a microfluidic device to form a mixture, the buffer comprising one or more amino acids. The method further includes contacting the mixture with a fluorocarbon oil and a surfactant to form fibrinogen-containing particles, and applying positive pressure to the microfluidic device to cause the fibrinogen-containing particles to flow towards a second end of the microfluidic device. The method further includes collecting the fibrinogen-containing particles at the second end of the microfluidic device; and polymerizing the fibrinogen-containing particles to form fibrin particles.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods utilizing microfluidics for the oxygen-controlled generation of microparticles and hydrogels having controlled microparticle sizes and size distributions and products from provided methods. The included methods provide the generation of microparticles by polymerizing an aqueous solution dispersed in a non-aqueous continuous phase in an oxygen-controlled environment. The process allows for control of size of the size of the aqueous droplets and, thus, control of the size of the generated microparticles which may be used in biological applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to compositions comprising fibrin and to methods of forming such compositions. In an embodiment, a method of forming fibrin particles is provided. The method includes introducing a buffer, a fibrinogen solution, and a thrombin solution to a first end of a microfluidic device to form a mixture, the buffer comprising one or more amino acids. The method further includes contacting the mixture with a fluorocarbon oil and a surfactant to form fibrinogen-containing particles, and applying positive pressure to the microfluidic device to cause the fibrinogen-containing particles to flow towards a second end of the microfluidic device. The method further includes collecting the fibrinogen-containing particles at the second end of the microfluidic device; and polymerizing the fibrinogen-containing particles to form fibrin particles.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices for the generation of hydrogel particles with micrometer and submicrometer dimensions using oxygen-inhibited partial polymerization, and the particles generated therefrom. The described methods generate particles with dimensions independent of the starting polymerizable solution dimension, for example, a microdroplet. Further, microfluidic flow parameters (e.g. viscosity, flow rate) and photopolymerization process parameters (e.g. optical exposure intensity and duration) are controlled to generate particles with tunable crosslinking density-determined properties including elasticity, diffusivity, and biomolecular display for diverse applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering cell scaffolds, and single- and multiple-cell therapeutics. Similarly, gradients of crosslinking density-determined properties can be created within single particles through the selection of optical exposure intensity and duration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods and compositions for controlling cellular expression. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells, methods of forming hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells, and methods of using hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells for controlling production of, for example, secretomes. In an embodiment, a composition for controlling production of secretomes is provided. The composition includes, a hydrogel comprising, in polymerized form, one or more photoreactive monomers and a thiol linker, wherein at least one of the one or more photoreactive monomers comprises a methylene functional group; and one or more cells dispersed or encapsulated within the hydrogel.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices for the generation of hydrogel particles with micrometer and submicrometer dimensions using oxygen-inhibited partial polymerization, and the particles generated therefrom. The described methods generate particles with dimensions independent of the starting polymerizable solution dimension, for example, a microdroplet. Further, microfluidic flow parameters (e.g. viscosity, flow rate) and photopolymerization process parameters (e.g. optical exposure intensity and duration) are controlled to generate particles with tunable crosslinking density-determined properties including elasticity, diffusivity, and biomolecular display for diverse applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering cell scaffolds, and single- and multiple- cell therapeutics. Similarly, gradients of crosslinking density-determined properties can be created within single particles through the selection of optical exposure intensity and duration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus for isolating biological material, processes for fabricating such apparatus, and processes for using such apparatus. In an embodiment, an apparatus for isolating a biological material is provided. The apparatus includes a fluidic channel disposed over a portion of a substrate. The apparatus further includes a hydrogel structure disposed in the fluidic channel, the hydrogel structure comprising a plurality of wells, wherein each well of the plurality of wells has a diameter from about 1 ?m to about 500 ?m, the hydrogel structure comprising, in polymerized form, one or more photoreactive monomers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to compositions comprising hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed beta cells, compositions comprising hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed beta-cell spheroids, processes for forming such compositions, and uses of the compositions. In an embodiment, a composition is provided that includes a first component comprising a hydrogel, the hydrogel comprising, in polymerized form, one or more photoreactive monomers and a thiol linker. The composition further comprises a second component comprising a plurality of beta cells dispersed or encapsulated within the hydrogel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to compositions that include hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells, compositions including hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells, and to processes for forming such hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells and compositions thereof. The compositions can be used for, e.g., therapeutic applications. In some examples, the hydrogel-encapsulated/dispersed cells are formed using photoreactive groups chemically attached to polyethylene glycol to form a material which, upon exposure to a desired wavelength or wavelength range of light, reacts to form a cross-linked hydrogel network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are photodegradable hydrogels and associated kits for selectively capturing and releasing cells. The hydrogels result from cross linking in the presence of a photoinitiator (1) a macromer having a polymeric backbone structure, a photo labile moiety, and a first linking moiety, and (2) a cell-binding moiety having a second linking moiety. These two components are cross-linked by a polymerization reaction of the linking moieties to form a photodegradable hydrogel incorporating the cell-binding moiety within the hydrogel. Also disclosed are methods of making the hydrogels, and methods of using the hydrogels for selectively capturing and releasing cells and for detecting cells in a fluid. Such methods can be used to detect the presence and quantity of certain rare cell types in a biological fluid.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to compositions comprising fibrin and to methods of forming such compositions. In an embodiment, a method of forming fibrin particles is provided. The method includes introducing a buffer, a fibrinogen solution, and a thrombin solution to a first end of a microfluidic device to form a mixture, the buffer comprising one or more amino acids. The method further includes contacting the mixture with a fluorocarbon oil and a surfactant to form fibrinogen-containing particles, and applying positive pressure to the microfluidic device to cause the fibrinogen-containing particles to flow towards a second end of the microfluidic device. The method further includes collecting the fibrinogen-containing particles at the second end of the microfluidic device; and polymerizing the fibrinogen-containing particles to form fibrin particles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus and methods for analyte detection. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a microscale biosensing platform based upon the rehydration-mediated swelling of functionalized hydrogel structures and rapid capture of target analyte(s) by induced convective flow. In an embodiment is provided an apparatus for analyte detection that includes a fluidic channel coupled to a substrate and a hydrogel structure coupled to the fluidic channel. The hydrogel structure includes one or more surface-functionalized hydrogel features, wherein at least one of the one or more surface-functionalized hydrogel features comprises a chemically-bound probe, the chemically-bound probe to bind an analyte, and wherein the hydrogel structure is at least partially dehydrated. Apparatus described herein can also include a detector. Methods of detecting analytes are also described herein.

Abstract: Described are methods and devices for the generation of hydrogel particles with micrometer and submicrometer dimensions using oxygen-inhibited partial polymerization, and the particles generated therefrom. The described methods generate particles with dimensions independent of the starting polymerizable solution dimension, for example, a microdroplet. Further, microfluidic flow parameters (e.g. viscosity, flow rate) and photopolymerization process parameters (e.g. optical exposure intensity and duration) are controlled to generate particles with tunable crosslinking density-determined properties including elasticity, diffusivity, and biomolecular display for diverse applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering cell scaffolds, and single- and multiple-cell therapeutics. Similarly, gradients of crosslinking density-determined properties can be created within single particles through the selection of optical exposure intensity and duration.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods utilizing microfluidics for the oxygen-controlled generation of microparticles and hydrogels having controlled microparticle sizes and size distributions and products from provided methods. The included methods provide the generation of microparticles by polymerizing an aqueous solution dispersed in a non-aqueous continuous phase in an oxygen-controlled environment. The process allows for control of size of the size of the aqueous droplets and, thus, control of the size of the generated microparticles which may be used in biological applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are photodegradable hydrogels and associated kits for selectively capturing and releasing cells. The hydrogels result from cross linking in the presence of a photoinitiator (1) a macromer having a polymeric backbone structure, a photo labile moiety, and a first linking moiety, and (2) a cell-binding moiety having a second linking moiety. These two components are cross-linked by a polymerization reaction of the linking moieties to form a photodegradable hydrogel incorporating the cell-binding moiety within the hydrogel. Also disclosed are methods of making the hydrogels, and methods of using the hydrogels for selectively capturing and releasing cells and for detecting cells in a fluid. Such methods can be used to detect the presence and quantity of certain rare cell types in a biological fluid.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus employing the laminar nature of fluid flows in microfluidic flow devices in separating, sorting or filtering colloidal and/or cellular particles from a suspension in a microfluidic flow device is disclosed. The microfluidic flow device provides for separating a particle within a suspension flow in a microfluidic flow chamber. The chamber includes a microfluidic channel comprising at least one inlet port for receiving a suspension flow under laminar conditions, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The chamber further includes an interface for translating a particle within the channel. The first outlet port receives a first portion of the suspension exiting the said channel and the second outlet port receives the particle in a second portion of the suspension exiting the channel.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus employing the laminar nature of fluid flows in microfluidic flow devices in separating, sorting or filtering colloidal and/or cellular particles from a suspension in a microfluidic flow device is disclosed. The microfluidic flow device provides for separating a particle within a suspension flow in a microfluidic flow chamber. The chamber includes a microfluidic channel comprising at least one inlet port for receiving a suspension flow under laminar conditions, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The chamber further includes an interface for translating a particle within the channel. The first outlet port receives a first portion of the suspension exiting the said channel and the second outlet port receives the particle in a second portion of the suspension exiting the channel.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus employing the laminar nature of fluid flows in microfluidic flow devices in separating, sorting or filtering colloidal and/or cellular particles from a suspension in a microfluidic flow device is disclosed. The microfluidic flow device provides for separating a particle within a suspension flow in a microfluidic flow chamber. The chamber includes a microfluidic channel comprising at least one inlet port for receiving a suspension flow under laminar conditions, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The chamber further includes an interface for translating a particle within the channel. The first outlet port receives a first portion of the suspension exiting the said channel and the second outlet port receives the particle in a second portion of the suspension exiting the channel.