title: In Situ Patterning of Microfluidic Networks in 3D Cell-Laden Hydrogels.
abstract: Focalized short-pulsed lasers have sufficient power to generate micrometer-sized cavities in various hydrogels. An in situ technique based on laser ablation to fabricate intricate microfluidic networks in biocompatible gels without manual handling is presented. This method is fully compatible with 3D cell culture and opens up unprecedented opportunities for cell biology, developmental biology, and stem-cell-based tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brandenberg
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. matthias.lutolf@epfl.ch.|Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, School of Basic Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. matthias.lutolf@epfl.ch.
authors.forename: Matthias P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lutolf
keywords: hydrogels; microfabrication; microfluidics; short-pulsed lasers; tissue engineering