Fig. 1: Microfluidic templating of core-shell microgel building blocks for fabricating PAM scaffolds.
From: Bioprinting microporous functional living materials from protein-based core-shell microgels
a Schematic of the formation of PAM scaffolds. First, the LAP-containing gelatin/gelMA polymer blend, together with cell-containing CMC solution spiked with transglutaminases, is emulsified by carrier oil into droplets within a flow-focusing microfluidic device. Droplets are then converted into microgels by enzymatic reactions, after which they are extruded and patterned into scaffolds. Finally, blue light initiates a second covalent crosslinking among jammed microgels, giving rise to PAM scaffolds. b By microfluidics, the core-shell ratio can be controlled. Flow rates of the hydrogel precursor solution (shell phase) and the carrier oil are controlled at 8 and 40 µL/min, respectively, and the flow rates of CMC (core phase) are 1, 2, and 3 µL/min, for small, medium, and large core size, respectively, n = 50 microgels analyzed in one experiment. c Printed PAM scaffolds and the micrograph shows local magnification of two intersected filaments. Data are presented as mean values ± standard deviation and source data are provided as a Source Data file.
