Fabrication of gradient hydrogels using a microfluidics/photopolymerization process.
A method of fabricating photo-cross-linked hydrogels with gradients of immobilized molecules and crosslinking densities is introduced. Two macromer/initiator solutions are injected into a unique poly(dimethylsiloxane) channel system that produces a prepolymer gradient that is subsequently polymerized into a water-swollen hydrogel with ultraviolet light exposure. The gradient is controlled by the injection flow rate (optimized to 0.3 microL/min per inlet to produce a linear gradient). The technique is investigated both through fabrication of adhesive ligand gradients that modulate spatial distribution of attached endothelial cells and gradients of cross-linking densities that led to unique hydrogel architectures and spatially dependent swelling.
Jason A
JA
Burdick
Ali
A
Khademhosseini
Robert
R
Langer
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000379:methods*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010777:Photochemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers