A method for photo-encapsulation of cells in a crosslinked PEG hydrogel is described. Hypoxic signaling within encapsulated murine insulinoma (MIN6) aggregates is tracked using a fluorescent marker system. This system allows serial examination of cells within a hydrogel scaffold and correlation of hypoxic signaling with changes in cell phenotype.
Skiles, M. L., Sahai, S., Blanchette, J. O. Tracking Hypoxic Signaling within Encapsulated Cell Aggregates. J. Vis. Exp. (58), e3521, doi:10.3791/3521 (2011).