We present a platform that allows homogeneous and heterogeneous 3-D soft materials to be continuously defined in a single step. Biopolymer solutions are introduced to a microfluidic device and radially distributed to feed to a common outlet at the device center. This forms concentric sheaths of complex fluids and upon crosslinking, a hydrogel tube at the exit. This approach allows for the controlled and continuous extrusion of tubes with tailored diameters of 500 μm to 1500 μm, wall thicknesses of 20 μm to 120 μm, and compositions, as well as predictable mechanical and chemical properties. Using the same platform, single and multi-walled hydrogel tubes with defined heterogeneities and patterns of discrete spots of secondary biopolymer materials can be continuously extruded. A tube-hosting device is presented which can independently perfuse and superfuse isolated tube segments, allowing precise microenvironmental control without cannulation for up to an hour.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/44047 |
| Date | 19 March 2014 |
| Creators | McAllister, Arianna |
| Contributors | Guenther, Axel |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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