Spatially heterogenous hydrogel models of soft tissues printed via digital light processing

Project Description

This proposal is centered on the utility of the BioPACIFIC MIP’s high-throughput multi-indenter system to elucidate the local microscale modulus gradients of gelator networks with spatial heterogeneity. Multi-material hydrogel constructs are 3D-printed via digital light processing (DLP), comprised of a morphogen/growth factor source region, diffusion region, and organoid/cell seeding region. We aim to characterize the gradients in the diffusion region. The information that will be gathered from this effort will enable a better modulation of spatially patterned or organized biological models as high-fidelity tissue models for in vitro studies of developmental diseases and the corresponding therapeutic approaches.

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