Step-by-Step Build-Up of Biologically Active Cell-Containing Stratified Films Aimed at Tissue Engineering

Alginate gel layers containing viable cells with adjacent bioactive polyelectrolyte multilayers are fabricated, and their bioactivity is shown to originate mainly from the degradation of the cells. Alternate biofunctionalized multilayers and cell-containing layers are shown to be an essential step toward fabrication of stratified architectures, and tuning the cellular activity is possible by controlling the position of active molecules.