A THREE-DIMENSIONAL HYDROGEL SCAFFOLD FOR CELL CULTURING AND A METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

A method for the preparation of a three-dimensional hydrogel scaffold for cell culturing, which comprises the steps of: a) preparing at least one first uniform solid mixture comprising at least one gas-forming agent, at least one water-soluble salt and at least one non-water-soluble, water-swellable cross-linked poly(acrylic) polymer; b) preparing compressed or compact units starting from the first solid mixture; c) subjecting the compressed or compact units thus obtained to heating at a temperature in the range of 20°C-160°C, for a time of 1-120 minutes; d) leaching the thermally treated units thus obtained in an aqueous medium; e) conditioning the leached units thus obtained in water or in an aqueous solution; f) subjecting the conditioned units thus obtained to sterilization; the three-dimensional hydrogel scaffold for cell culturing obtainable with the above method comprises a non-water soluble, water-swellable cross-linked poly(acrylic) polymer, such as Carbomer or Polycarbophil, has a porosity higher than 80% and a pore size comprised between 0.1 nm and 600 μm.