Fig. 2: Experimental characterization and thermochemical modeling of the coordinated vascularization process.

a Optical image of propagating FP reaction in a DCPD gel (α₀ = 0.25) in tandem with depolymerization of an embedded PPC (1% PAG) template to create vascular pDCPD (t = 31 s after initiation). b Front velocity (black triangles) and maximum front temperature (red squares) during FP as a function of α₀ of the DCPD gel. Successful VaSC through complete depolymerization of PPC depends on the amount of heat released during FP, which decreases with increasing α₀. Sacrificial templates undergo complete depolymerization for α₀ ≤ 0.25. Partial depolymerization results in clogged microchannels for 0.30 ≤ α₀ ≤ 0.35 and FP is no longer possible for α₀ ≥ 0.40. Error bars represent one standard deviation from the mean (n = 3). c Simulation of a DCPD gel (α₀ = 0.25) showing the spatial distribution of the degree of cure (α) of DCPD and the degree of depolymerization (β) of the sacrificial template during FP (t = 31 s after initiation). d Predicted spatial variation of α and β in the direction of the propagating front (t = 31 s after initiation). Successful polymerization and vascularization are defined by α and β reaching 0.90 or higher, as shown by the α₀ = 0.25 case (orange lines). The α₀ = 0.35 case (blue lines) shows successful polymerization but unsuccessful vascularization, corroborating experimental observations.