Hierarchically Structured and Tunable Hydrogel Patches: Design, Characterization, and Application.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies show the importance of hydrogel geometry for various applications, such as encoding, micromachines, or tissue engineering. However, fabricating hydrogel structures with micrometer-sized features, advanced geometry, and precise control of porosity remains challenging. This work presents hierarchically structured hydrogels, so-called hydrogel patches, with internally deviating regions on a micron-scale. These regions are defined in a one-step, high-throughput fabrication process via stop-flow lithography. Between the specified projection pattern during fabrication, an interconnecting lower crosslinked and more porous hydrogel network forms, resulting in at least two degrees of crosslinking within the patches. A detailed investigation of patch formation is performed for two mat

SUBMITTER: Steinbeck L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11753498 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature