Abstract: Method of manufacturing hydrogel microparticles comprising one or more species of living cells attached thereon and/or encapsulated therein is provided. The method includes dissolving a hydrogel-forming agent in an aqueous medium to form a solution; suspending one or more species of living cells in the solution to form a cell suspension; dispersing the cell suspension into an organic oil to form a microemulsion; and subjecting the microemulsion to conditions that allow the hydrogel-forming agent to form hydrogel microparticles comprising one or more species of living cells attached thereon and/or encapsulated therein. Composition comprising a mixture of a degradable hydrogel and at least one hydrogel microparticle having one or more species of living cells, and method of manufacturing a scaffold for tissue engineering are also provided.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing hydrogel microparticles comprising one or more species of living cells attached thereon and/or encapsulated therein is provided. The method includes dissolving a hydrogel-forming agent in an aqueous medium to form a solution; suspending one or more species of living cells in the solution to form a cell suspension; dispersing the cell suspension into an organic oil to form a microemulsion; and subjecting the microemulsion to conditions that allow the hydrogel-forming agent to form hydrogel microparticles comprising one or more species of living cells attached thereon and/or encapsulated therein. Composition comprising a mixture of a degradable hydrogel and at least one hydrogel microparticle having one or more species of living cells, and method of manufacturing a scaffold for tissue engineering are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a mixture of at least one degradable hydrogel and at least one kind of degradable and surface cross-linked particle. The at least one kind of degradable and surface cross-linked particle comprises a material which degrades faster than the degradable hydrogel. The composition can further comprise one or more species of living cells. The invention relates also to a method of manufacturing the composition, as well as to a method of manufacturing a scaffold for tissue engineering using the composition.