Fig. 7: Transcatheter delivery and biocompatibility. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: Transcatheter delivery and biocompatibility.

From: 4D printed hydrogel scaffold with swelling-stiffening properties and programmable deformation for minimally invasive implantation

Fig. 7

a Schematic of 4D printed scaffold for transcatheter delivery and subcutaneous multi-dimensional deformation. b Digital images revealing the transcatheter delivery procedure and multi-endogenous stimuli responsiveness of the 4D printed structure. c Photographs showing the feasibility of 4D printed scaffolds to complete 1D to 3D deformation subcutaneously in SD rats. d Gross pictures of the implanted scaffolds and surrounding tissues at different time points. e Histological evaluation of the printed DTPU-0.25-4k and DTPU-0.5-4k scaffolds at different timepoints (n = 3). Scale bars in (b) and (d) were 10 mm, and scale bars in (e) were 1 mm.

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