Design, evaluation and use of a microfluidic device for automated production of mucin microparticles for cell encapsulation for diabetes therapy

Abstract: Droplet microfluidics has prevalent growth in a wide range of applications in the life science field. This project is one such example where we used a droplet microfluidics tool for treating diabetes mellitus type 1. Mucin hydrogels (Muc-gels) modulate the immune response driving biomaterialinduced fibrosis.[1]. In this project, we have fabricated a droplet microfluidic device for encapsulation of Min6m9 cells(Insulin secreting cells) in mucin hydrogel microparticles. Initially a novel microfluidic circuit design made for production of droplets and fabricated the same by micromachining and 3D printing. Before producing cell encapsulated mucin hydrogel droplets, we have evaluated the functionality of the device by using water as a model we have tested mixing of components from two inlet fluid channels, the size distribution of water droplets produced at different pressure values, droplet generation rate. Thereafter, Min6m9 cells are encapsulated in mucin microparticles, viability studies have been made and observed growth of cells which eventually forming islet-like structure after 15 days of incubation. Performed experiments to make microfluidic device to work in an automated format by using a fluid handling robot for mass production and solving other problems that occurred while encapsulation.