Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Reprogramming macrophage mechanosensation via TRPV4 modulating mechano-immunotherapy controls fibrotic encapsulation of biomaterial implants.

Bioactive materials·2026
Same author

Tracking Spatiotemporal Extracellular Matrix Evolution and Tissue Fusion in 3D Microtissues via Click Chemistry-Based Metabolic Labelling.

Advanced healthcare materials·2026
Same author

Additive Manufacturing of Ordered Polymer Nanostructures.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same author

Advances in light-based 3D bioprinting.

Biofabrication·2026
Same author

Water-Soluble Ammonium BODIPYs: Synthesis, Photophysics, Photogelation, and Antimicrobial Activity.

Chemistry, an Asian journal·2026
Same author

Endocrine therapy reprogramming of breast cancer facilitates metastatic escape via upregulation of P-Rex1/Rac1 signalling.

Nature communications·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Gradient Strain Chip for Stimulating Cellular Behaviors in Cell-laden Hydrogel
13:28

Gradient Strain Chip for Stimulating Cellular Behaviors in Cell-laden Hydrogel

Published on: August 8, 2017

8.0K

Droplet-based microfluidics for engineering shape-controlled hydrogels with stiffness gradient.

Bram G Soliman1,2,3, Ian L Chin4, Yiwei Li5

  • 1Light Activated Biomaterials (LAB) Group, University of Otago, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand.

Biofabrication
|August 9, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a novel microfluidics platform for advanced biofabrication, creating complex hydrogel structures with controlled stiffness gradients. This technology enables better biomimicry for tissue engineering and cancer research applications.

Keywords:
architecturebiofabricationdiffusiongradienthydrogelsmicrofluidics

More Related Videos

Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning
12:07

Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning

Published on: April 16, 2018

13.4K
Image-guided, Laser-based Fabrication of Vascular-derived Microfluidic Networks
10:53

Image-guided, Laser-based Fabrication of Vascular-derived Microfluidic Networks

Published on: January 3, 2017

9.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Gradient Strain Chip for Stimulating Cellular Behaviors in Cell-laden Hydrogel
13:28

Gradient Strain Chip for Stimulating Cellular Behaviors in Cell-laden Hydrogel

Published on: August 8, 2017

8.0K
Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning
12:07

Fabricating Degradable Thermoresponsive Hydrogels on Multiple Length Scales via Reactive Extrusion, Microfluidics, Self-assembly, and Electrospinning

Published on: April 16, 2018

13.4K
Image-guided, Laser-based Fabrication of Vascular-derived Microfluidic Networks
10:53

Image-guided, Laser-based Fabrication of Vascular-derived Microfluidic Networks

Published on: January 3, 2017

9.9K

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Microfluidics
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Current biofabrication methods struggle to replicate native tissue shape-to-function relationships.
  • Replication requires biomimicry of macroscale shape, size, and microscale spatial heterogeneity in cell-laden hydrogels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a novel diffusion-based microfluidics platform for advanced hydrogel fabrication.
  • To demonstrate the platform's capability in creating hydrogels with controlled architecture and stiffness gradients.
  • To investigate cellular responses to engineered hydrogel microenvironments.

Main Methods:

  • A two-step diffusion-based microfluidics process was developed.
  • Hydrogel-precursor phases were dispersed to form various structures (spherical, plug-like, continuous).
  • Controlled diffusion of small molecules (e.g., sodium persulfate) enabled patterned photo-polymerization and hydrogel formation.

Main Results:

  • The platform successfully generated shape- and size-controlled hydrogels with radial stiffness patterns and controllable internal architectures (hollow hydrogels).
  • Mesenchymal stromal cells encapsulated within these hydrogels responded to stiffness heterogeneity via the YAP mechano-regulator.
  • Breast cancer cells exhibited phenotypic switching in response to stiffness gradients, impacting aggregation and potentially metastasis.

Conclusions:

  • The diffusion-based microfluidics platform effectively mimics native shape-to-function relationships for tissue engineering.
  • This platform provides a versatile tool for studying the impact of micro- and macroscale architectural features on cellular behavior.
  • Findings have implications for understanding mechanotransduction in cancer metastasis and developing advanced biomaterials.