Fluidic preparation of patterned hydrogel fibers using micronozzle-array devices for neural cell guidance

Micronozzle array-combined microfluidic devices have been developed to form anisotropically-patterned hydrogel fibers composed of soft and solid regions, which are highly useful to form linear cell colonies and neurite networks. The patterns of the vertical micronozzles determine the cross-sectional compositions of the Ca-alginate microfibers, with the widths of the fiber and the soft regions of 60~100 and 10~20 μm, respectively. Neuron-like cells (PC12 cells) were inoculated in the soft region of the fiber, which showed unprecedented behaviors of linear colony formation and guided neurite outgrowth, and cellular networks were formed. The presented anisotropic microfibers are highly useful as a useful material for nerve regeneration therapies.