Zhang, J.Yun, S.Du, Y.Zannettino, A.Zhang, H.2020-11-022020-11-022020Applied Materials Today, 2020; 20:100747-1-100747-192352-94072352-9407http://hdl.handle.net/2440/128772Cell aggregates are widely used either as in-vitro models for drug screening, fundamental studies on disease progression and developmental biology, as well as in-vivo injectable cells for tissue regeneration. Compared to single-cell suspensions, cell aggregates retain superior cell viability, mimic in-vivo microenvironments and enhance functional properties, such as superior anti-inflammatory properties of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell aggregates or enhanced albumin production by hepatocyte aggregates. Cell aggregates can be either prepared by conventional spontaneous aggregation, or advanced substrate-based and technology-assisted methods, which have been well described in previous reviews. However, hydrogel-based preparation of cell aggregates is a novel, hitherto rarely considered method compared to conventional preparation of cell aggregates, such as hanging drops and commercial AggreWell™ plates. This review will mainly focus on two-dimensional (2D) hydrogel surface -based and three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel embedding-based preparation of cell aggregates by revealing the underlying mechanisms and highlighting some of their potential biomedical applications.en© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.2D; 3D; hydrogel; cell aggregate; biomedical applicationJournal article100002338310.1016/j.apmt.2020.1007470005983561000142-s2.0-85087589020538443Zannettino, A. [0000-0002-6646-6167]Zhang, H. [0000-0003-4178-6401]