Georgia Tech Research Corporation

University of Louisville Research Foundation

Devon Headen

Andres Jose Garcia

Haval Shirwan

Hang Lu

Esma S Yolcu

Guillaume A Aubry

Hong Zhao

Cristina Gonzalez Garcia

Edward A Phelps

Described herein are FasL-engineered biomaterials, as well as methods of making and using such FasL-engineered biomaterials, such as for immunomodulation, such as for inducing immunosuppression and specific immune tolerance, such as for preventing or reducing the risks of rejection of cellular or tissue grafts and/or the treatment of autoimmune disorders such as Type I diabetes. In specific embodiments, the FasL-engineered biomaterials are biotinylated microgels bound to SA-FasL.

FasL-engineered biomaterials with immunomodulatory function

Methods of encapsulating cargo in a microgel droplet, microgel droplets prepared according the provided methods, and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The methods of preparing cargo-encapsulated microgels generally include flowing through a flow-focusing nozzle of a microfluidic device a macromer phase, an oil phase, and a crosslinker phase to form microgel droplets by oil-water emulsion. The phases are pumped, injected, or flowed through the microfluidic device such that as the macromer phase approaches the flow focusing nozzle, the co-flowing oil phase shields the macromer from contact with the crosslinker phase until flow instability occurs and macromer phase droplets form. After flow instability occurs, the crosslinker diffuses from the crosslinker phase into the droplets in an effective amount to covalently crosslink the macromer into a microgel network encapsulating the cargo in the crosslinked macromer. Microgels prepared according to the disclosed methods and methods of use thereof are also provided.

Microgels for encapsulation of cells and other biologic agents

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Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Devon Headen