Soft, Degradable, and Magnetic Microcarriers for Encapsulation and Guided Transport of Drugs and 3D Spheroids

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Xuan Peng - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Lulu Song - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Daryna Mruga - , NASU - Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Veronika Bakhmat - , NASU - Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Sergei Dzyadevych - , NASU - Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Lin Guo - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Shahrukh Shakeel - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Rico Illing - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Olha Bezsmertna - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Xiaotao Wang - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Nicholas R. Posselli - , University of Twente (Author)
  • Sarthak Misra - , University of Twente, University of Groningen (Author)
  • Sandra Hauser - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Jens Pietzsch - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Klaus Kopka - , Chair of Bioinorganic and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Denys Makarov - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Željko Janićijević - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Xinne Zhao - , Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)
  • Larysa Baraban - , Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) (Author)

Abstract

Soft microcarriers hold great potential for biomedical applications, yet their translation is limited by the lack of controlled degradation, restricted capacity for co-encapsulation of therapeutic and cellular cargos, long-term biocompatibility, and scalable production challenges. Here, we introduce a new concept of discrete, degradable hydrogel microcarriers, produced via droplet-based microfluidics and UV photopolymerization, designed to integrate these properties. These soft microcarriers enable co-encapsulation of multiple species, including magnetic particles, drugs, and living cell spheroids, while allowing precise motion control over complex trajectories using external gradient magnetic fields. Their tunable degradation under physiological conditions ensures transient stability, controlled navigation, and safe clearance. This approach provides spatiotemporal control over cargo transport and release, enabling the microcarriers to function as systems with a controllable lifecycle. These multifunctional microcarriers represent a versatile platform for tissue engineering, minimally invasive therapies, and diagnostic monitoring, enhanced by the precise in situ navigation option.

Details

Original languageEnglish
JournalAdvanced materials
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 17 Jun 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0003-1010-2791/work/219268321

Keywords

Keywords

  • cell spheroids, co-encapsulation, controlled degradation, degradable hydrogel microcarriers, droplet microfluidics, magnetic navigation