Porous microwell scaffolds for 3D culture of pancreatic beta cells to promote cell aggregation and insulin secretion

Malfunctioning of the pancreas leads to insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. Even though transplantation of pancreatic beta cells is making progress in diabetic treatment, further promoting insulin secretion of pancreatic beta cells remains a challenge. In this study, gelatin-PLGA mesh based porous microwell scaffolds were prepared for three-dimensional (3D) culture of pancreatic beta cells to promote their aggregation and insulin secretion functions. The microwell structure was fabricated on a biodegradable polymer mesh by using an ice particulate template method. The size of microwells could be controlled by the dimension of ice particulates. The microwells had a concave morphology surrounded by dense ultra-small pores. RIN-5F cells cultured in the porous microwell scaffolds had high viability and formed grape-like aggregates. More importantly, insulin secretion of RIN-5F cells was enhanced by culturing in the porous microwell scaffolds compared to culturing in flat scaffold and normal cell culture plates. The results suggested that the porous microwell scaffolds promoted aggregation formation and insulin secretion of pancreatic beta cells. The porous microwell scaffolds hold high potential as a novel 3D culture model for diabetes mellitus. Porous microwell scaffolds of biodegradable polymers of gelatin and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were prepared for 3D culture of pancreatic beta cells to promote the formation of cell aggregates and insulin secretion.