Fig. 2

Multi-scale molding and microfluidic integration of non-swelling DexMA. a Replica-molding of DexMA to duplicate the gross anatomical features of a bone. A negative mold of the bone was generated in PDMS, filled with DexMA gel precursor solution, and UV crosslinked to yield the bone replicate (scale bar, 1 cm). b DexMA micro-gels were similarly fabricated by replica-molding using PDMS molds generated by traditional SU8 photolithography (scale bars, 100 μm). c Patent micron-scale fluidic channels embedded within non-swelling DexMA gels. Sacrificial channel structures were micromolded in gelatin as in ref. ³², DexMA gels were cast on top, and gelatin was dissolved at 37 °C to yield open channels. Brightfield and fluorescence image demonstrating channel perfusion by red and green fluorescent beads (scale bar, 500 μm). d Schematic depicting fabrication of tubular channels embedded within 3D hydrogels. e Images of channels immediately after needle removal, and following equilibrium hydration. Swelling hydrogels (DexMA3, DexMA5, MeHA, PEG) all result in channel closure in contrast to non-swelling DexMA11. Scale bar, 100 µm. f Degree of channel closure (% of initial channel width) as a function of hydrogel swelling (defined as % of initial gel diameter)