Abstract
This paper proposes the controlled release of adeno-associated virus (AAV) by polymer mesh structures of alginate hydrogel microbeads (gel-beads). The polymer mesh structure of alginate hydrogel can be controlled by adjusting the number of cross-linking points depending on the molecular structure (M/G ratio) of the alginate hydrogel. Scanning electron microscopic analysis on the mesh structures of alginate hydrogels with M/G ratios of 0.96 (MG-0.96) and 0.42 (MG-0.42) indicates that the mesh size distribution of MG-0.42 hydrogel was smaller than that of MG-0.96 hydrogel. Using these characteristics, controlled release of AAVs (AAV-1 or AAV-5) from M/G-ratio-tuned gel-beads (MG-0.96 or MG-0.42), Janus-shaped gel-beads consisting of hemispheres of the MG-0.96 and MG-0.42, and MG-0.64 gel-beads consisting of a mixture of MG-0.96 and MG-0.42 were examined with ELISA for AAV capsids and the GFP fluorescent signals from the transfected cells. The precise control of AAV release by the mesh structure of the alginate hydrogels could be an effective method for creating AAV micro-carriers for gene therapy.