Abstracts Book - IMRC 2018

• SB6-P043
FABRICATION OF A PVA-BASED HYDROGEL USING A PETRI DISH
3D TECHNOLOGY FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Maira Moreno Valtierra 1 , Luis Alberto Castillo Díaz 1 , Rodolfo Hernández Gutiérrez 1 , Rogelio
Rodriguez 1 , Jorge Armando Jiménez Avalos 1 , Iliana Iséhy Sànchez Muñoz 1 , Zaira Yunuen Garcia
Carvajal 1
1 Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, Medical and
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Mexico.
Currently, 2D and 3D cell culture models represent a strategy to reduce the use of
animals according to 3 R´s principles (Russell, 1959). 3D cellular models are
receiving increasing attraction, being developed and studied extensively. One of the
most interesting and reliable 3D cellular models in cancer research, is the
multicellular tumor spheroid model. To achieve it, some traditional methods have
been applied, producing various sized spheroids, which are an inconvenient for
many biomedical applications. In this regard, Petri Dish 3D® technology has arose
as a tool for the formation of spheroids with delimited shape and size. These
characteristics are mainly influenced by topography, a crucial issue defined by the
composition and mechanical properties of hydrogels. The objective of this study is
to elaborate a PVA-based hydrogel through the Petri Dish 3D technology® suitable
for biomedical applications.
In order to generate a stable hydrogel, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solutions with
different concentrations (2-4% w/v) and molecular weight (89-98 g/mol) were tested.
These solutions were added to Petri dishes molds with distinct topography and
submitted to a cryogenic process. Briefly, molds were frozen to - 20ºC for 24 hours
and thawing at room temperature for several cycles until obtaining a hydrogel with
greater rigidity and stability. Hydrogel topography were examined through
stereoscopic microscopy, showing that hydrogels were able to separate it the mold
maintaining the negative shape of the mold. Subsequently, hydrogels were
submitted to a treatment with ultraviolet light as a crosslinking, and at the same
time, a sterilization process.
Our preliminary results indicate that PVA-based hydrogels obtained by this method
were stable and maintained the desired topography. Future work will focus on
culturing cancer cells onto PVA-based hydrogels and determine their capability for
spheroid formation.