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Alginate Hydrogels: A Tool for 3D Cell Encapsulation, Tissue Engineering, and Biofabrication

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1250))

Abstract

A wide variety of hydrogels have been proposed for tissue engineering applications, cell encapsulation, and bioinks for bioprinting applications. Cell-laden hydrogel constructs rely on natural hydrogels such as alginate, agarose, chitosan, collagen, gelatin, fibroin, and hyaluronic acid (HA), as well as on synthetic hydrogels such as poloxamers (Pluronics®) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). Alginate has become more and more important in the last years, thanks to the possibility to prepare alginate hydrogels suitable for cell encapsulation mainly because of the mild and reversible cross-linking conditions. In this paper alginate will be described in detail with respect to its chemistry, cross-linking behavior, biocompatibility, manufacturing capacity, and possible modifications.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Security, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Walter Bonani

  2. Department of Industrial Engineering and BIOtech Research Center, University of Trento, Trento, Italy

    Walter Bonani, Nicola Cagol & Devid Maniglio

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  1. Walter Bonani
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  2. Nicola Cagol
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  3. Devid Maniglio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Devid Maniglio .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Cell & Tissue Engineering and College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Heung Jae Chun

  2. 3B’s Research Group, I3Bs – Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Rui L. Reis

  3. Department of Industrial Engineering and BIOtech Research Center, University of Trento, Trento, Italy

    Antonella Motta

  4. Department of BIN Convergence Technology, Department of Polymer Nano Science & Technology and Polymer BIN Research Center, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Korea (Republic of)

    Gilson Khang

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Bonani, W., Cagol, N., Maniglio, D. (2020). Alginate Hydrogels: A Tool for 3D Cell Encapsulation, Tissue Engineering, and Biofabrication. In: Chun, H., Reis, R., Motta, A., Khang, G. (eds) Biomimicked Biomaterials. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1250. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3262-7_4

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