Methodology to encapsulate progesterone-producing prostate cancer PC3 cells in polyethylene glycol diacrylate thin films

One approach to solve the problem of hypogonadism is to restore the steriodogenic function of Leydig cells through cell transplantation. In order to dodge the immune response, the implanted cells need to be micro-encapsulated in PEGdA hydrogel. The size of the microcapsules affects the diffusion of oxygen and nutrients, which in turn have an impact on cell viability. We determined the three-dimensional expansion ratio of 10% (w/v) PEGdA (MW12000) hydrogel to be 3.80 and the one-dimensional expansion ratio to be 1.54. We have also described a method to create PEGdA hydrogel thin films of preset thickness, with deviation of 10%. Additionally, we showed that the hydrophobic sex steroid progesterone can diffuse out of the PEGdA hydrogel network into aqueous environment in as little time as 0.5 hours. The presented information may aid in the development of a micro-encapsulation system that could be used for the treatment of hormone related diseases.