Cell encapsulation compositions and methods for immunocytochemistry

A composition, the composition comprising:

• (a) a scaffold polymer, wherein the scaffold polymer:
• (i) is selected from:
• PEGDA;
• PEGMA;
• and PEGDMA;
• (ii) has an average molecular weight (Mn) between about 500 and about 3,000;
• (iii) is water soluble and biocompatible;
• and
• (iv) is operable to form a hydrogel following cross-linking;
• and
• (b) 2-Hydroxy-1-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-2-methyl-1-propanone is less than or equal to 1.0% w/v of the composition;
• wherein, the composition has a density of between about 1.0 g/ml and about 1.10 g/ml at 25° C.

A cell encapsulation method, the method comprising:

• (a) adding a crosslinking agent to the surface of a cell imaging container;
• (b) adding a composition to the cell imaging container, the composition comprising:
• (i) a scaffold polymer, wherein the scaffold polymer:
• has one or more acryloyl group or one or more methacryloyl groups;
• has an average molecular weight (Mn) between about 300 and about 6,000;
• is water soluble and biocompatible;
• and
• is operable to form a hydrogel following cross-linking;
• and
• (ii) a porogen;
• (c) adding cells or a cell suspension to the composition to form a cell polymer mixture in the imaging container;
• (d) settling the cell within the cell imaging container;
• and
• (e) cross-linking the cell polymer mixture to form a hydrogel.